Muhammad: The Messenger of God (film)

Pre-production began in October 2007 with the first draft for the screenplay ready by March 2009. In early 2011, an enormous set of an estimated 100 hectares (250 acres) was built near the city of Qom.[7] The set resembled sixth-century Mecca and Medina during the early years of the life of Muhammad.[13] A replica of the Kaaba shrine was built in the remote village of Mazraeh-ye Allahyar.[14] In October 2011, Majidi officially announced the project, calling it his 'most ambitious and expensive film project'.[7] He did not hint at the title of the project or its content but added that it would 'bring pride to Iran and Iranians'.

By the following month, filming had commenced and the minister of culture and Islamic guidance Mohammad Hosseini confirmed that a movie about Muhammad was being filmed.[7] The film was partially funded by the Iranian government.[15] Mohammad Mehdi Heidarian was announced as the producer, and Shining Light (Noor-e-Taban) was the project's financial backer.[7] However, in a turn of events, reports of November 2012 claimed the film was titled Muhammad's Childhood. Majidi opined that many Muslims know little about Muhammad's upbringing. His objective was to orientate the audience with the period of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era), and how it was before the appearance of Muhammad. Majidi framed the screenplay to depict the Quraysh tribe and how Muhammad was raised against this backdrop yet developed very firm principles from an early age.[6]

The cinematographer of the film, Vittorio Storaro, arrived in Iran with a 30-man crew. Storato accepted the project after he had a brief discussion about the film with Majidi in Rome.[16] Scott E. Anderson was involved as a visual effects supervisor.[7] Croatian production designer Miljen Kreka Kljakovic was named as the art director, and Giannetto De Rossi as the make-up artist.[13] Costume designers from Germany, Croatia and Slovenia were chosen in August 2013.[16]

According to Majidi, he and a research team of historians and archaeologists had consulted with Shia and Sunni scholars from Iran, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon and Iraq[17] in order to ensure accurate portrayal of Muhammad's early years.[7] Majidi also consulted jurists and clerics to explain his vision and the impressions that he wanted to communicate through this film.[6] He met and discussed the film with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who supported and viewed the final movie. Ali Al-Sistani, Ayatollah Wahid Khorasani, and Iranian philosopher Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli were also involved.[6] Majidi's research team sought the advice of Sunni Ulama, among whom was the Turkish Hayrettin Karaman.[6] While speaking at a press conference, for the creation of a logotype representing Muhammad, Majidi stated that the film intended to fight against any improper image of Islam the West had in mind.[18] The logotype was designed by calligrapher Mohammad Jalil Rasouli.[13] Mohammed Mahdi Heidarian, head of the Noor-e-Taban Film Industry Company Production, confirmed that his firm had spent $40 million on the epic film.[19]

The self-constructed city near Qom, Iran where majority of filming took place.

Majority of the filming was done in secrecy and without any news coverage, allowing no journalists to visit or report from filming locations. Further, Majidi talked less to his actors face to face, and mostly they needed to talk to his assistants.[20] In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, Majidi stated that for filming on a grand scale he faced many problems of administration and logistics. As 40 per cent of the story takes place in Mecca in the 6th century, Majidi and his team recreated the city to what it would have been 1400 years ago.[21] Filming was done at a set constructed near the city Qom, Iran.[7] Later, the location of the set was named as "Prophet Muhammad Cinematic City" due to its grandiosity in structure and area.[21] Certain scenes requiring elephants[16] were filmed at Bela-Bela in South Africa.[22] Despite having meagre sources, no paintings from that period to assist in the process; the team tried to make the location as historically accurate as possible.[21] Besides this, in other locations they had problems with constructions, with providing costumes and animals, transporting elephants and handling the huge number of people on the shoot, as some days the team had nearly 3000 extras present on the site.[21]

In an interview with Iranian Film Daily, Majidi was quoted saying, "A whole town as well as a full-scale Mecca were recreated down to the most minute detail."[8] The film script depicts Muhammad's adventures through the age of twelve. Majidi added that the film starts with Muhammad's adolescence, and his childhood is shown through flashbacks.[8] The makers chose the period before Muhammad became a prophet.[8] Considering difficulties and Islamic beliefs on the countenance of Muhammad, Majidi stated, "The face of Muhammad is not shown in the film. By hiding his face I will make the character more intriguing for the viewer."[8] Cinematographer Storato compensated the facial look by focusing on other tools of expression like camera movement with use of lighting. Further, another Steadicam that focuses on Muhammad's perspective was used other than few cameras for the rest of the cast. The film's frame rate was increased from 24 cadres per second to 30 cadres per second for the movement to be more smooth.

The post-production works began in Munich by October 2013.[23] In 2014, Majidi revealed that the film would be ready by end of 2014 and would be submitted to the Fajr International Film Festival in Iran.[20] By mid-2014, the film was in the final stages of post-production.[7] In January 2015, work on the special effects and music composition were being carried out.[24] In February 2015, Majidi was in France to resolve issues pertaining to sound-mix engineering.[25]

Mostafa Seyedabadi states that the colour and lighting in the film was "astonishing".[14] Critic Massoud Farasati dismissed certain film's shots, like a low-angle view of Muhammad as a teen against the sky, and called it a "Hollywood" knockoff.[39] In a first look review published by The Guardian, the critic gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, stating, "Majidi chronicles the first ripples of this revolutionary wave in a handsome, pre-CGI-era epic style. His film is intellectually honest, committed and poetic."[40] Contrary to the positive review, Alissa Simon of Variety stated, "Although many of Majidi's earlier films dealt with the spiritual purity that comes with selfless love and deliver a religious rapture of sorts, "Muhammad: The Messenger of God" feels stiff and awkward, burdened rather than elevated by its weighty subject matter. And it doesn't help that the characters remain cardboard cutouts of historical figures, never attaining any psychological or emotional life."[41] Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter opined that the film was 'moving' in moments, but mainly overdone and underwhelming.[42] Reza Abbas Farishta of The Muslim Vibe magazine rated the film 93%, stated: "My last thoughts are directed towards Majid Majidi and his team who dedicated 7 years of their life for this herculean task, and have blessed us with this beautiful masterpiece."[43]

The film raked in an estimate $60,000 on the opening day in Tehran.[44] Further, in two weeks post the release, it grossed roughly $2 million.[45] It was the top-grossing movie of that year with a total of over $1.8 million.[46]

The film met with widespread[47] criticism prior to its theatrical release, originating from Sunni Arab countries.[14] In February 2015, Egypt's Al-Azhar University called on Iran to ban the film. According to the University, which described the film as debasing the sanctity of messengers from God.[14] Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al Shaykh condemned the film, stating that "the film depicts the Muhammad in an 'untrue light'" and "undermines the important role he plays in Islam. The film stands a mockery of Muhammad and a degradation of his status."[48] The Saudi Muslim World League (MWL) also denounced the movie on account of scenes characterizing the body and figure of Muhammad.[48] In India, Barelvi Raza Academy issued a fatwa against the director, Majid Majidi, as well as A. R. Rahman, who wrote the musical score for the film.[49][50][51] The Raza Academy also demanded a ban on the film,[52][53] successfully petitionaing the Maharashtra government to block its online release in 2020 on the Don Cinema streaming service with the home minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh also asking the government of India for a nationwide ban.[54]