On January 27, a press conference was held at the Sharif Kamal Apartment Museum in Kazan to mark the completion of principal photography on the international feature film "Teacher," dedicated to the life and spiritual journey of the great 19th-century Tatar theologian and educator Shihabetdin Marjani. This large-scale project is a joint production between filmmakers from Russia (Tatarstan) and Uzbekistan, supported by the Russian Ministry of Culture and part of Uzbekistan's state program "Terek Tarikh " (Living History), which aims to create films about prominent historical figures.
Filming took place in two locations: in Uzbekistan (Bukhara and Samarkand), key episodes of the young Marjani's education and spiritual development were captured, and in Russia (Kazan and the Zelenogorsk region), scenes relating to his period of maturity.
Uzbek guests attending the conference were surprised by the January frosts in Kazan, which added a lively, informal atmosphere to the event. The meeting featured the director from Tatarstan, Ramil Tukhvatullin, and the producers of Milyausha. Aituganova and Abdrauf Juraev. One of the key contributors, Uzbek director Ilkhom Muhammadibrohimov was unable to attend the press conference in person due to a sudden illness, which was especially noted by the organizers, who wished him a speedy recovery.
Renowned Uzbek cinematographer Umid Malikov, recognized as one of the region's finest cinematographers, a teacher, and a participant in numerous international projects, made a significant contribution to the film's visual presentation. Despite his extremely busy schedule, he accepted the invitation to work on "The Teacher," highly appreciating the depth of the subject matter and the historical scope of the protagonist's personality. Malikov emphasized that the filming process, despite the complex challenges of recreating the era, took place in a harmonious and creative atmosphere. A shining star of the Uzbek cast is Anbar Katayev (Anton Khartayev ), a renowned theater and film actor and winner of the Diamond Butterfly Award, who has Tatar roots. In the film, he plays the crucial role of a scribe-mentor who introduces the young Marjani to the world of Islamic scholarship and literary wisdom, effectively becoming the future theologian's spiritual guide.
Mamadasimov , CEO of partner company Film Fusion PRO, speaking on behalf of the Russian side, emphasized that the project received state support due to its extreme relevance: in the context of modern geopolitical and civilizational challenges, it is important to use cinema to present a true, humanistic image of traditional Islam, as preached by Shihabetdin Marjani.
Director Ramil Tukhvatullin, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, was the central figure at the press conference. He revealed several key aspects of his work. First, Tukhvatullin emphasized that the filmmakers faced a formidable challenge : to make a feature film about a figure considered a saint by many, while avoiding a textbook, iconic image.
"We wanted to show Marjani as a living person, with his strength, doubts, and inner struggle. Talented people are never easy, and he was certainly an inconvenient presence in his time, because he clearly understood who he was and what his mission was," the director noted.
Secondly, he detailed the unprecedented effort to ensure historical accuracy. According to him, the script underwent a multi-stage review by a team of consultants — historians from the Marjani Institute in Kazan, Uzbek scholars specializing in the Transoxiana period, and even a Japanese researcher, to whom the materials were sent for expert review.
"We understood the responsibility. One historical or theological error could have ruined all our efforts. Therefore, we strictly controlled ourselves at every stage," Tukhvatullin stated.
The director also explained why the first film primarily covers the character's formative years: a vast body of Marjani's scholarly work has yet to be translated into Arabic, and his personality as a scholarly encyclopedist requires separate, in-depth study.
"We begin with his youth, his journey to Bukhara and Samarkand, the formation of his mind and spirit. This is a story about choice and calling," he said. Asked about the potential audience, Tukhvatullin expressed confidence that the film will resonate far beyond Tatarstan and the Muslim community, as it tells a universal story about the search for truth, education, and spiritual dignity. Producer Milyausha cited a successful precedent. Aituganova cited the film "Paradise Beneath Mothers' Feet," which attracted a huge and diverse audience to cinemas.
The premiere of "Teacher" is scheduled for September 2026 as part of the Kazan International Film Festival "Altyn Minbar," with subsequent screenings in Uzbekistan and Moscow. The film is planned to be translated into Arabic and Turkish for promotion in the Islamic world. The filmmakers have also not ruled out the possibility of a sequel, as Shihabetdin Marjani's rich biography provides ample material for new cinematic interpretations.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"