GHOLAMREZA TAKHTI

The story of the film "Gholamreza Takhti" begins with the reading and signing of his will and his suicide. Then, through flashbacks, it depicts his childhood spent in extreme poverty in Aloungah Khanabad, south of Tehran. His father, Rajab Khan, had an old refrigerator that was confiscated during the railroad expansion project, which further intensified their poverty and drove his father to madness. Gholamreza, who had a passion for wrestling, initially fails to become a wrestler in his adolescence but starts practicing alone while working at the oil facilities in Masjed Soleiman. Eventually, he leaves his laborer job in the oil fields, returns to Tehran to be with his family, and discovers his talent under the coaching of Haji Ali, also known as Poulad Abdul Hassan, at the Poulad Gymnasium. Gholamreza quickly becomes a member of the Iranian national wrestling team and wins a silver medal at the 1951 Helsinki Wrestling Championships and a gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Takhti's success in sports, along with his generosity and spirit of helping the poor, brings him widespread popularity among the people. However, he faces personal and family issues alongside his sporting achievements. The envy of his teammates arises due to Takhti's success in the sports field, and his popularity among the people creates sensitivity within the government, especially because of his inclination towards the national front and Prime Minister Mosaddegh. The dual struggles of sports envy and political interference, combined with several setbacks toward the end of his athletic career, leave Takhti frustrated and weary. His marriage on November 3, 1966, not only fails to change his situation but exacerbates it due to differences between him and his wife. The birth of his son, Babak, in September 1967 also has no significant impact on his situation. Ultimately, Gholamreza Takhti, the world champion wrestler, commits suicide on January 7, 1968, two days after finalizing his will, by taking medication in Room 23 of the Atlantic Hotel in Tehran.