About the author
**Mehdi Meigani** (born May 23, 1955) is an Iranian writer, director, film producer, actor, and master puppeteer. He has received numerous national and international awards.
Raised and educated in Tehran, Iran, Mehdi graduated in acting for theater at the Dramatic Arts Faculty of Tehran (DAFT). His play **"The Last Curtain"**, which he wrote and directed, won the award for Best Original Play of 1980 by the Ministry of Culture of Iran. Early in his career, Mehdi focused on children's television shows and movies. In 1989, he introduced a new fiberglass technique for puppet and set décor building in Iran, which became widely used in films and theaters.
In 1993, Mehdi founded the **Arts College of Puppetry** in Tehran, teaching puppetry, acting, and set décor building. After moving to the United States in 1994, he created the television series **"Hi Kids (Salam Bacheha)"**, a 96-episode puppet show for Iranian children in North America.
His interest in poetry and self-knowledge led him to study Maulana Jalal e Din Balkhi (Rumi) in Balkh. Mehdi proposed projects to the United Nations and UNICEF, traveling to Afghanistan in 2003. This passion resulted in the establishment of **Maulana House**, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to Rumi's poetry and life. Mehdi has expanded his research on Rumi and Shams E Tabrizi, introducing Shams E Tabrizi's school to UNESCO and helping it gain official recognition in Tabriz.
Mehdi has produced over 250 television series, acted in several movies and TV programs, and created the **Rumi Television** show. He also acted in and produced Rumi's **Mathnavi** on Broadway in New York City. He has traveled several times to Konya, Turkey, visiting Rumi's shrine and creating short films interviewing Maulana's grandchildren. Since 2008, he has been working on Rumi books, a stage play, and a movie about Rumi and Shams.