Babek (1979)

Interesting facts

Babek is a 1979 Soviet historical drama film directed by Eldar Guliyev. A joint production between Azerbaijanfilm and Mosfilm, Babek is the most expensive film produced in Azerbaijan SSR. It stars Rasim Balayev in the title role with Hasanagha Turabov playing Abbasid general Afshin. The screenplay was written by novelist Anvar Mammadkhanli.

Production

The film was allocated 650,000 rubles by the USSR State Committee for Cinematography and 1 million rubles by Azerbaijanfilm. At first, Hasan Seyidbayli was attached to direct because of his experience in making history films. However, during the shooting of the film, Seyidbeyli was removed from the project, presumably due to his deteriorating health. The film was then entrusted to director Eldar Guliyev.

Babek was shot in Nakhchivan. Since the filming took place during the grape harvest season, producers wanted to involve masses of locals as extras. For this, the assistance of Nakhchivan leadership was important. However, authorities were reluctant in slowing down the grape harvest. At this point, Heydar Aliyev, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party, intervened.

Rasim Balayev, who later received the title People's Artist of Azerbaijan SSR, played Babak. Recalling those years, Balayev said: "I was invited to the auditions. They liked the audition and I was approved. The shooting lasted for several months. We did it in Nakhchivan, Ramana Tower, the studio's pavilion, and the Ateshgah Temple in Surakhani. The sets were so skillfully built that they didn't feel like a decoration.

I went to horseriding, swimming, and fencing training with a few other actors. We were in training for about 2 to 3 months. I mainly had problems with horseriding. I was injured significantly because I fell off a horse several times. Even now I suffer from that. I have a lot of back pain, and when I go to the doctor, they say that it was caused by a trauma. I didn't feel it that much when I was young. Age and injuries now speak for themselves.

We were on the set from 6 in the morning to 11 in the evening. Everyone got up early in the morning and got ready. 5 or 6 costumers dressed thousands of people. It took hours. Everything was difficult. When the crowd was ready, they brought us to the set. There were special rules and regulations. Gathering 4-5 thousand people and making a film was not an easy task.

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