Amir Arsalan
Amir Arsalan-e Namdar (Persian: امیر ارسلان نامدار) is a popular Persian legend which was narrated to Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar, the Qajar Shah of Persia in the 19th century, (though the legend itself is much older) by a storyteller named Mohammad Ali Naqib al-Mamalek (Persian: میرزا محمدعلی نقیب الممالک). Mohammad never transcribed the poem himself, but the daughter of the Shah, who also loved the tale, eventually transcribed it and preserved it for history.
The epic narrates the adventures of its protagonist Arsalan. The story begins with the Banu (lady) of Roum (also known as Constantinople, or Istanbul). Roum was conquered by European invaders, and its pregnant Banu (lady) forced to flee for her life. She becomes wedded to an Egyptian merchant and gives birth to her child, Arsalan. The merchant claims the child as his own. Eventually, of course, Arsalan learns of his royal origins and takes it in his mind to reclaim his throne.
A modified version has been the main theme of the Japanese novel and anime series The Heroic Legend of Arslan.
This story was developed to a screen play by Shapor Yasami on 1954, main actor was the Iranian actor, Iloosh Khooshabeh (known as Rod Flash and Richard Lloyd in the west). The story was developed to another scenario by doctor Esmaeel Koushan on 1965, this time the Arsalan was played by Mohammad Ali Fardin, the result was a very successful musical film.