Original Photo: AP/Hossein Salehi Ara

Watch Iranian writer (and much more), Maziar Bahari, talk to 60 Minutes‘ Bob Simon about his imprisonment and recent release from Tehran’s uber-jail Evin, in an interview that aired on Sunday November 22nd.

We’re just grateful that Bahari was able to make it out alive, despite the torture and interrogation (Basiji/Sepahi style) he says he experienced while in detainment at Evin prison in Iran.

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Iranian-American Comedian: K-von

Watch a shirtless K-Von in a funny clip on “how to eat healthy”, while on the Maz Jobrani tour.

“On the Maz Jobrani, Brown and Friendly Tour, thousands have asked me, ’How can you eat healthy while on tour?’ Well, it’s not easy.” K-von says.

“Perhaps this video will give you a better understanding that it can be done!”

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After years of quietly and elusively adding his mark to LA’s concrete landscape, Iranian-born artist ABCNT started to gain rising recognition in the Iranian-American community with his iconic political posters of Neda, Taraneh and Mossadeq in the wake of this summer’s stolen elections in Iran.

Shot and directed by Nima Nabavi, this short video reveals some of the mechanics that drive this hidden artist to create.

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Original Photo Courtesy of Disney

Disney has just released the very first trailer for what’s sure to be one of next year’s blockbuster-movies, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

Watch Jake Gyllenhaal as he takes hold of his Persian role for the videogame-inspired flick.

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In front of a massive crowd with a green glow, Persian poetry, Iranian artist Shirin Neshat’s artwork, and images of the brutal attacks many Iranians suffered for protesting the 2009 Iranian election’s results carouseled the overhead jumbo-screen on Sunday October 25th, 2009, while mega-band U2, in their true philanthro-artistic virtue reached out to Iranians and all people who “love freedom” before performing a pertinent song from their album War: Sunday Bloody Sunday.

“What is going on in the world?” Bono started his Iran-tribute out with.

“I’m going crazy.”

“Can u hear us? Iran… Radio Tehran. This is the United States calling.”

“We’re speaking to you.” He compassionately added. ”Can you hear us?”

Watch the rebroadcast of the full live streaming performance from the Rose Bowl, and skip to the 1:26:00 mark to hear Bono deliver his shout-out.

It’s about time for a new soundtrack for you to conquer your Fall 2009 with, isn’t it?

We’ve got the perfect one. 

Click here to enjoy and download the delicious sounds of Sharam’s 2009 Beatport Chart!

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Original Photo: JimmyVestvood.com

Good News!

Your favorite Iranian comedian, Maz Jobrani, has released a promotional clip for his much-anticipated Persian-based character: Jimmy Vestvood – An Amerikan Hero.

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Watch this video of Stephen Harper, Canada’s 22nd and current Prime Minister, as he explains why Canada is boycotting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech at the UN and references Iran’s “detainment of Canadian citizens” and ”flagrant abuse of human rights.”

“There’s no way I’m going to permit any official of the government of Canada to be present,” says the Prime Minister.

You must watch this video of one of the most clever protest platforms we’ve seen thus far, used to voice distaste against Ahmadinejad yesterday in New York.

The art installation consists of people dressed in all white clothing to double as a “human screen” while a compilation of videos and images from this summer’s protests in Iran are projected on them.

Sad but powerful.

Created by Producer, Director, and Director of Photography Richard Patterson, the Iranian band that we officially dubbed as “Iran’s rock prodigies”: HYPERNOVA has released a new video for their rock song, “Sinners”.

The video is described as “a fluid stop-motion video” that is “composed of 16,000 individual photographs.”

Check it out for yourself!

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You must watch this slightly odd but entertaining video of UK’s globally successful franchise XFactor 2009 contestant, Behrouz Ghaemi as he sings the Scissor Sisters’ hit, “Take Your Mama”, with an attempted Golpa-like “chah-chah“ intro to the classic rock song. 

“I don’t want to be a star, we’ve got loads of them. I want to be the sun, because there’s only one sun.” Says the quirky Behrouz whose sense of style still has us smiling. “I’m yoo-nik (unique), I’ve got the look. I have sex appeal.”

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Check out Metallica’s song Nothing Else Matters in accoustic guitar and tar. Tar (pronounced taar), a Persian instrument and the precursor to the “guitar”, means “string” in Persian. In fact, the word guitar derives from the Persian word: sitar.

Check out our beloved Persian rap superstars, the super-duper talented, Zed Bazi’s nostalgia-inducing song: Koocheh (street).

We just can’t get enough of these guys!

Click here for another one of our Zed Bazi favorites: Zendegiye Mane (It’s My Life).

One of the first chants heard in the video above is: “Iraani mimirad, mellat nemipazirad!” (An Iranian dies, the public does not accept!)

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