A documentary film titled Mujila; An Arabized Melody, directed by Hawar Faris, has been produced in the Department of Filmmaking at the College of Fine Arts, University of Sulaimani.
The documentary examines the history of the Mujila maqam, which research indicates was created by the Kurdish maqam singer Muji Wali in the city of Kifri during the nineteenth century. According to Faris, the maqam’s identity was later altered in the history of Iraqi music and introduced under the name “Madmi” as an Arabic maqam.
Faris explained that the film aims to uncover historical facts and highlight an important part of Kurdish cultural heritage. She noted that cinema can serve not only as a medium for storytelling but also as a scientific and historical tool for preserving cultural heritage and restoring recognition to its creators. Through visual research, the documentary combines footage of archaeological sites in Kifri with oral testimonies and historical evidence to demonstrate the Kurdish origins of the maqam.
The production team included Dr. Dilshad Mustafa as project supervisor, Hozan Shirzad as assistant director and director of photography, Nejad Najm as production manager, Dlovan Majid as editor and makeup artist, Hevar Omar as sound recorder, Barham Yasin as décor designer, Ali Aras as fly-cam operator, and Tolaz Bokan as lighting designer.
Following the presentation of the project, a discussion committee consisting of Dr. Dilshad Mustafa, Karimok Ghafur, and Hiwa Muhammad approved the documentary without any remarks. The committee praised the project as a valuable scientific and national contribution to the preservation and documentation of Kurdish music and cinema.
Filming was carried out in the city of Kifri during the first month of this year with the participation of a professional production team. The documentary is scheduled to be screened next year as part of the activities of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Sulaimani.
