Vedat Örfi Bengü, also spelt as Wedad Orfi, and Wadad Orfi, (October
14, 1900 â€" May 25, 1953) was a Turkish-Egyptian silent film producer
and actor.In 1926, Örfi approached Youssef Wahbi to play the role of
Prophet Muhammad in a film, which would be financed by the Turkish
government and a German producer. Whilst the President of Turkey,
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and the Istanbul Council of Ulamas gave their
approval to the film, the Islamic Al-Azhar University in Cairo
published a juridical decision stipulating that Islam forbids the
representation of the prophet and his companions. Thereafter, King
Fouad warned Whabi that he would be exiled and stripped of his
Egyptian citizenship if he took part in the film. Consequently, the
film was later abandoned.By 1927 Örfi produced and starred in the
film "Neda Allah" ("The Call of Allah") which was a collaborative
project with Aziza Amir. The film was later remade and released as
"Layla" ("Leila") with some of Orfi’s original shots left in the
film. The latter production is often considered to be the first
Egyptian feature film.In the 1930s Örfi moved to Turkey.
14, 1900 â€" May 25, 1953) was a Turkish-Egyptian silent film producer
and actor.In 1926, Örfi approached Youssef Wahbi to play the role of
Prophet Muhammad in a film, which would be financed by the Turkish
government and a German producer. Whilst the President of Turkey,
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and the Istanbul Council of Ulamas gave their
approval to the film, the Islamic Al-Azhar University in Cairo
published a juridical decision stipulating that Islam forbids the
representation of the prophet and his companions. Thereafter, King
Fouad warned Whabi that he would be exiled and stripped of his
Egyptian citizenship if he took part in the film. Consequently, the
film was later abandoned.By 1927 Örfi produced and starred in the
film "Neda Allah" ("The Call of Allah") which was a collaborative
project with Aziza Amir. The film was later remade and released as
"Layla" ("Leila") with some of Orfi’s original shots left in the
film. The latter production is often considered to be the first
Egyptian feature film.In the 1930s Örfi moved to Turkey.
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