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Noted Iranian film-maker Majid-Majidi has just made the most expensive Iranian film ever, and as if that wasn't a big enough gamble, the subject matter isn't lacking controversy either. Muhammad, Messenger of God is meant to be the first in a projected trilogy aimed at telling the story of the last prophet of Islam.

With a total cost of $30 million and five years on board, Majidi created a giant replica of the holy city Mecca near Iran’s capital, Tehran to shoot the film. He also brought on board Academy award-winner, A R Rahman to score the film.

The film avoids the obvious concern – showing Muhammad's face is generally considered to be forbidden in Islam – by instead focusing on the people around the prophet, but that hasn't kept it out of controversy.

The film was ready for its world-wide premier at the Fajr International Film Festival in January this year, shortly after the attack on the French satirical weekly newspaper, Charlie Hebdo which saw the killings of 12 people for cartoons satirising the prophet and Islam, but it was later called off because of a “technical snag”. Egypt has already protested against this film and called for a ban whereas Qatar has announced to shoot its own film on the life of prophet. The movie has nevertheless opened to packed screenings in Iran this week.

"The film starts with [the prophet’s] adolescence, and his childhood is shown through flashbacks. We chose the period before Muhammad became a prophet," Majidi told reporters in September.

As if on cue, a group in India has also called for the movie to be banned. The Raza Academy, a Mumbai-based Muslim Sunni organisation, has asked the Home Ministry to ban the film for hurting the "sentiments" of Muslims, saying it is "blasphemous for more than one reason."