RA Distinguished Artist, actor, director, screenwriter Yervand Manaryan is known in Armenia and abroad. He puts a smile on people’s faces, as well as makes them serious and feel that he is by their side with his stare. The films starring Manaryan make viewers happy and live on in their memories…

“Hayernaysor”: Mr. Manaryan, let’s start with your roles. All Armenians love them and the expressions of several heroes that you have embodied have turned into aphorisms…Which is your favorite role and why?

Yervand Manaryan: My answer to that question is a very old and repeated question: which child does a parent love more…? Of course, I would say all roles. I love all of them because I have never starred in a film without a love for the character. If it were not up to me, I would star in many more films. But I have to love my hero and be in touch with it…Of course, I can set aside Yervand in the film “Harsnatsun Hyusisits” (Bride from the North) and not because I love that character the most. I already gave the answer. Yervand simply became one of the happiest because that film is almost always shown on television. People love a film that never grows old. It doesn’t grow old because it is pure, sincere and is hinged on a topic that is current in all times. In real life, I am not like Yervand at all because I have a different personality and lifestyle. But I know many people whom I have compared to Yervand. I tried to create a collective character.

“Hayernaysor”: The expression “collective character” exactly refers to typification. What do you have to say about today’s so-called collective characters which we see in different soap operas?

Y. M.: Believe me, I don’t watch soap operas. I have never treated them seriously to begin with. However, I don’t condemn them either because that is a “culture of the masses” and it is in demand. But I know that there are some type of television personalities who have their fans. Perhaps they are the collectiveness of certain layers and types of people whom I can’t accept. Art must have a purifying force. Even when you picture something bad, you have to make sure it is condemned so that people see that such people can’t portray the society’s image. But what we see in Armenia is the opposite…Well, that’s the way it is today and that’s how people think. We all share that pain.

“Hayernaysor”: People mainly refer to you as a comedian because the heroes you personify find themselves in funny situations. Is it easy to play the role of a comic hero?

Y. M.: Comedy is the most difficult genre. The inner gravity and focus is the charm of comedy. I love to find something in people that I can mock and make them look ridiculous. I coax such people and see how pitiful they are at the same time…Now comedy has also become very simple and cheap. There are many comedians and comic actors. There are talented people among them, but generally, I get sad when I watch most of them because clowning around has nothing to do with comedy. Let’s remember Mher Mkrtchyan, Karp Khachvankyan, not to mention Tatik Saryan. The charm of their art lied in their high professionalism and gravity. They didn’t make any effort to make people laugh. Now, some consider making people laugh their major objective and do everything possible to put a smile on people’s faces. That is not a good thing.

“Hayernaysor”: Everyone knows Yervand Manaryan the actor, but few know about his life…

Y. M.: I understood the question. I was born in Iran and immigrated to Armenia in 1946. I came to Armenia with Hovhannes Badalyan, Zareh Ter-Karapetyan, Abig Avagyan and Ishkhan Gharibyan, but unfortunately, I am the only one living. I studied at the Faculty of Directing at Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Levon Kalantaryan was my professor. In 1952, I put on Molier’s “Tartyuf” as a work for my diploma. Later, I traveled to Vienna where I met a young talented Istanbul-Armenian man by the name of Arman Vardanyan and we both put on Paronyan’s “Baghdasar Aghbar” (Brother Baghdasar). Well, you know Arman well and have written two books about him. He was sentenced to jail in Turkey and is now a notable playwright…When I returned from Vienna to Soviet Armenia, I started working at the puppet theater which I reopened. Afterwards, I saw attacks against me and bans based on ideology…I faced hardships, but I didn’t leave theater behind. I was almost exiled from Yerevan. I went to Goris, headed the dramatic theater there and established a puppet theater as well. Puppets are always by my side and I can’t live without them. Now I have created the “Agulis” Puppet Theater.

“Hayernaysor”: Why Agulis?

Y. M.: My ancestors were from Agulis or Nakhichevan. My grandfather from my mother’s side was a notable troubadour…I wanted to name my theater after something which I longed for. My parents and relatives had that longing…

“Hayernaysor”: Once again, you take a glance at Nakhichevan, speak of it and also show the struggle…

Y. M.: I wouldn’t say our show of interest is late, but we lost many things throughout time. Other people made decisions for us. But I am happy to see books and studies and that Nakhichevan is politically interesting. I hope that someday there will be a response to Armenians’ just claims and that justice will be served.

“Hayernaysor”: Today, you are one of the forefathers of our intellectuals and a notable artist. What would be your call to Armenian youth today?

Y. M.: I would only call on them to love the homeland. Patriotism is the compulsion and the demand of the spirit. If we honestly love our homeland, we will see a better homeland and will reach victories which we need very much. A nation that has suffered losses is condemned to celebrate victories.

Interview by Levon Mutafyan