Yahia Faifq

Biography

Faaeq was born in Karbala in 1913 and started his theatrical career in 1929. He founded the Arab Theater Group in 1932, known for plays like "Homeland and Home," "This is Your Stables" (1942), and "Revolution in Bedba" (1946). In 1958, he established the Republican Theater Group. Faaeq directed the first Iraqi colored film, "The Holy Thresholds" (1951), and was part of the film "Aliya and Issam" (1949). He also directed documentaries, including one about the 1954 Baghdad flood. With Karim Majid and Aziz Ali, he formed "Modern Iraq Films," producing documentaries on the country's progress in the 1950s. In radio and television, Faaeq contributed to Iraqi radio drama and directed various TV programs. His last TV work, "The Black Doors," was not aired due to its criticism of societal corruption. Yahya Faaeq passed away in 1983, facing isolation for his nationalist views and commitment to his people.