‘Tears of Love’ set to hit movie screens

A tale based on the mystical life of the legendary Islamic intellectual and Sufi poet Mevlana Muhammed Jelaluddin Rumi, the movie will be inspired by Yağmur’s bestselling books “Aşkın Gözyaşları Hz. Mevlana” and “Aşkın Gözyaşları Şems-i Tebrizi.”

Eda Sürmeli -- owner of My Elit, the company producing the movie -- stated that the film will focus on Rumi’s famous words: “I am the slave of the Quran for as long as I am living. I am dust on the path of Muhammad, the Chosen One.” She added that in order to do justice to the true magic and beauty of the story, the production team wants a world-renowned film director to shoot the film.

Revealing that the company is currently talking with a number of famous directors, Sürmeli explained that that they first considered American actor, producer and director Nicolas Cage, but that for various reasons the prospect had not worked out.

Explaining that the team was attempting to keep the cast a secret for the time being, Sürmeli said that “at this stage, all I can reveal is that Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud will be playing Şems-i Tebrizi.” Massoud, who played the role of Muslim ruler Saladin in Ridley Scott’s 2005 film “Kingdom of Heaven,” is known in Turkey for his performance as the Sheikh in the Turkish film “Kurtlar Vadisi” (Valley of the Wolves).

Sürmeli also stated that the team intends to donate a percentage of box office proceeds to charitable causes.