Muhammad: The Messenger of God (film)

Muhammad: The Messenger of God
Directed by	Majid Majidi
Produced by	Mohammed Mahdi Heidarian Mohammad Reza Saberi
Written by	Majid Majidi Kambuzia Partovi
Starring	Mahdi Pakdel Alireza Shoja Nouri Mohsen Tanabandeh Dariush Farhang Seyed Sadegh Hatefi Sareh Bayat Mina Sadati
Music by	A. R. Rahman
Cinematography	Vittorio Storaro
Edited by	Roberto Perpignani
Production company	Noor-e-Taban Film Company Production Infinite Production Company GmbH
Release date	12 February 2015 (2015-02-12) (Cinema Farhang) 27 August 2015 (2015-08-27)
Running time	178 minutes
Country	Iran
Language	Persian Arabic English
Budget	$40 million
Box office	$5.5 million

Muhammad: The Messenger of God is a 2015 Iranian Islamic epic film directed by Majid Majidi and co-written with Kambuzia Partovi. The film is set in the sixth century where the story revolves around the childhood of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The film marks the biggest-budget production in Iranian cinema to date. Development of Muhammad: The Messenger of God began in 2007 and Majidi wrote the first draft of the screenplay by 2009. By 2011, a colossal set created in the city of Qom near Tehran was ready for the majority of the film. Several scenes were filmed in South Africa. Throughout the filming process, Majidi worked with a team of historians and archaeologists for the work on accuracy of the early life of Prophet Muhammad. Post-production works began in Munich during late 2013 and were completed in 2014. The cinematography is done by Vittorio Storaro and film score is composed by A. R. Rahman.

The film was set to have its premiere at the Fajr International Film Festival on 1 February 2015 but was pulled out due to technical difficulties. For the critics, film-makers and journalists, a special screening was held at Cinema Farhang in Iran on 12 February 2015. The film was released both in Iran and at Montreal World Film Festival on 27 August 2015. The film was selected as the Iranian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.

By the order of Abraha, King of Habasha, one of his army commanders launches an attack on Mecca in order to destroy the Kaaba. He leads a well-equipped force of thousands of soldiers, horses and elephants. As the army approaches Mecca, the elephants respond to divine order by halting and refusing to continue. Millions of small birds then release a hail of stones onto Abraha’s forces and the army is annihilated. A month later, Muhammad is born. This film depicts the pre-Islamic Arabia as seen through the eyes of Muhammad from birth to the age of 13.