Support for "Samar e Azadi" Music Video

A piece composed by Mehrdad Arabi inspired by the original composition by Aref Qazvini

Vocal by Ghazaleh Feylinejad & Mehrdad Arabifard

Back vocals: Khosrow Ansari

Niousha Noor

Tara Gerami

Katy Khavari

Special guest: Homa Sarshar

video Director: Sam Javadi

Abolqassem Aref Qazvini was a celebrated lyricist and musician born in 1882 in Qazvin. Often called Iran’s “national poet,” Qazvini is famous for composing political songs and verses of defiance in support of the Iranian Constitutional movement of 1906. The founder of Iran’s tradition of protest poetry, he wrote in traditional styles—ghazals, ballads, and matnawi forms, which feature rhyming couplets. In poems such as “از خون جوانان وطن لاله دمیده”Tasnif Az Khon e Javan e Vatan”

bid people to fight for freedom from dictatorship and foreign influence. He continued to compose pro-revolutionary songs until his death in 1934. His complete works were later published in Berlin and Tehran, and his influence is still felt in 2010. Many unpublished poems were released in Memories of Aref Qazvini, and the musician-poet’s work remains a beloved soundtrack of resistance until now. Nine decades after Aref’s death, Mehrdad Arabi ( Master of traditional Persian music ) has benefited his words and his knowledge to spread the word of wisdom showing Iranians bravery to achieve justice and freedom in Iran.