Kurdish director Jalil Zangana talks about the final seasons of the popular Gardalul TV series. Photo: 964media
Final season planned
Kurdish director plans for end of popular TV series ‘Gardalul’
SULAYMANIYAH — Jalil Zangana, a renowned Kurdish director, told 964media he plans to produce the final season of “Gardalul,” a popular Kurdish TV series in the Kurdistan Region. The season is expected to conclude the series, which is one of the most-watched in the region.
“This could likely be the end of ‘Gardalul,’ and I pray for the strength to complete it,” said Zangana, 77.
“Gardalul” explores the history of Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan and the lives of the Peshmerga fighters during the Baath regime. The title means “storm” in Kurdish, symbolizing the Kurdish struggle in the 20th century against the former Iraqi regime’s fascism.
The series, which has aired three seasons from 2005 to 2013 on Kurdsat, covers significant historical events in the Kurdistan Region through mid-1983. The upcoming season will include events leading up to the 1991 uprising and the exodus, including the Anfal genocide and the chemical attack on Halabja.
The series has been critically successful locally, celebrated for bringing Kurdish historical narratives to a wide audience and fostering a deeper understanding of the region’s turbulent past.
Zangana revealed that filming for the fourth season is scheduled to begin in July. He also noted that some original cast members have passed away or are unable to participate due to personal reasons.
The director, who is battling age and health issues, said he could not continue without help, highlighting the scale of the project which involves nearly a thousand people in acting and non-acting roles. “A participant is different from an acting actor,” he added, explaining the large number involved.
Zangana once famously said, “As long as there is oppression, ‘Gardalul’ will continue.”
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