Early Years and Family Background: Forough Farrokhzad was born into a large, middle-class family in Tehran. Her father, Colonel Mohammad Bagher Farrokhzad, was a military officer, and her mother, Touran Vaziri-Tabar, was a homemaker. Forough was the third of seven children, growing up in a strict and conservative household. Her early exposure to literature came from her father, who encouraged her to read poetry and classic Persian literature.
Early Career and Personal Life: Forough’s interest in poetry began at a young age, and she started writing poems in her teenage years. At the age of 16, she married Parviz Shapour, a satirist and cartoonist, and moved to Ahvaz. The couple had one son, Kamyar, but the marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce after a few years. The divorce had a significant impact on Forough, both personally and professionally, as she lost custody of her son and faced societal backlash for her choices.
Professional Growth and Breakthrough:
- First Poetry Collection: “The Captive” (1955)
- Forough’s first collection of poems, “The Captive,” was published when she was just 20 years old. The collection dealt with themes of love, loss, and longing, and was notable for its bold and candid expression of female desire and emotion, which was groundbreaking in the conservative Iranian society of the time. This collection marked the beginning of her tumultuous yet illustrious career.
- Subsequent Collections: “The Wall” (1956) and “Rebellion” (1958)
- Her next two collections, “The Wall” and “Rebellion,” continued to explore personal and societal issues, solidifying her reputation as a leading voice in modern Persian poetry. However, her work was often met with criticism and censorship due to its controversial themes and candid expression.
Artistic Evolution and Recognition:
Filmmaking: In the early 1960s, Forough ventured into filmmaking, working with Ebrahim Golestan, a prominent Iranian filmmaker and writer, who became her partner and mentor. This period marked a significant shift in her career as she began to explore visual storytelling.
Notable Film: “The House is Black” (1963)
Her documentary film, “The House is Black,” about a leper colony, received critical acclaim and is considered one of the most important films in Iranian cinema. The film’s poetic narration and stark realism showcased Forough’s unique artistic vision and further established her as a multifaceted artist.
Later Poetry and Themes: Later Collections: “Another Birth” (1964) and “Let Us Believe in the Beginning of the Cold Season” (posthumously published in 1974)
Forough’s later poetry, particularly in “Another Birth,” reflected a more mature and philosophical perspective, delving into themes of rebirth, existentialism, and the human condition. Her style became more refined, and her voice more introspective and profound.
Tragic End and Legacy: Forough Farrokhzad died in a car accident on February 13, 1967, at the age of 32. Her untimely death shocked the literary and artistic community in Iran. Despite her short life, Forough’s impact on Persian literature and modern Iranian culture is immense. Her fearless exploration of taboo subjects, her innovative poetic style, and her contributions to Iranian cinema have left an indelible mark. She is remembered as a pioneer of modern Persian poetry and a symbol of artistic courage and integrity.
Real Name: Forough Farrokhzad
Date of Birth: January 5, 1935
Birth Place: Tehran, Iran
Residence: Tehran, Iran (throughout her life)
Profession: Poet, Filmmaker, Writer
Nationality: Iranian
Religion: Raised in a Muslim family, later identified more with secular and humanistic values
Partner: Ebrahim Golestan (prominent filmmaker and writer, mentor)
Father: Colonel Mohammad Bagher Farrokhzad
Mother: Touran Vaziri-Tabar
Horoscope: Capricorn
Age at Death: 32 years old