Kolah Ghermezi (, lit. "The One with the Red Hat"), also known as Red Hat, is a fictional puppet character created by Iraj Tahmasb and Hamid Jebelli along with Marzieh Mahboob and Masoud Sadeghian Boroujeni. He has appeared in various television series and a number of theatrical films. The first TV program to feature the character was a 1995 episode of the children's puppet show Post Box (Persian:صندوق پست). Films based on this character are the best-selling in the history of Iranian cinema. For over two decades, presence in Iranian cinema and television, Kolah Ghermezi turned from a doll to a cultural phenomenon that could find many audiences among different generations, especially those of the 1360s (1980s).
Kolah Ghermezi is an orange-skinned humanoid with a bulbous nose and a red smile. He always wears a distinctive red hat, from which he received his name, along with a blue shirt and green pants. He has two different eye colors: one blue and the other green. He was originally characterized as a schoolboy who talked so quickly that he could not be easily understood, but this trait has been lessened throughout his media appearances.
Kolah Ghermezi from 2009, along with several other dolls in the form of the Nowruz (New Year's) Show, re-launched the TV series and became the most engaging program on the holiday that year. The special Nowruz Kolah Ghermezi program continues to the present day.
Early life
There are two narratives in the life of Kolah Ghermezi and how his character was established: 1. Television series (not widely known) 2. The movie "Kolah Ghermezi and the Cousin" considerably more widely known.
In the first narrative, the character is a shoemaker who shows up as a guest in one of the episodes of children's series Post Box' (sandoghe posti)'. He brings back the shoes which he has waxed of Mr. Morji (mis-pronounced version of "Mojri" meaning the Host of a show). The character is a playful, cheerful boy who mis-pronounces almost every word in a funny way. He constantly spits as he talks as well. Ultimately he stubbornly stays in the show and fixes his presence in the program.
The second narrative which is the most widely-known among the fans is depicted in the movie "Kolah Ghermezi and the Cousin" where he lives in a small town and has just been expelled from school. After trying different jobs (such as a driving instructor!), unsuccessful in all, he hears a voice by complete accident from a TV in the showcase of a TV store while walking in a street. Mr. Mojri lives in the capital, Tehran, and hosts a TV show for kids. One of the episodes is being aired when he walks by.
Hearing the soft, kind words of the host, Kolah decides to go to Tehran and try to become his co-host. He arrives but Mr. Mojri by no means needs a co-host especially a kid who cannot even talk properly. In a moment of disappointment, "The Cousin" who is the son of his maternal aunt - neither of whom ever became actual characters) shows up and tells him a story about an ant who never quits the job when taking a heavy seed to home, even if it is heavy and if he drops it many times he tries again. With the help of The Cousin and the girlfriend of Mr. Mojri who thinks Kolah is cute and has potential they finally convince Mr. Mojri to accept him and they become close friends.
History
Kolah Ghermezi was originally an ant, used in the show "Wagtail and the wise Hoopoe" directed by Iraj Tahmasb in 1981 along with its creator, Massoud Sadeghian Boroujeni. Sadeghian also creates puppets for Hadi and Hoda, the School of Mice, and Aleson and Waleson shows for kids.
In 1993, a few years after the Wagtail and the wise Hoopoe, this puppet was pulled out of the archives once again for the show "Jeghjeghe o Ferfere" and turned into Kolah Ghermezi by some alterations by Marzieh Mahbub.
Initially the character was only supposed to be present as a guest in the show for a small bit part as a playful boy and a student, who did not know how to speak properly and constantly misspelling words. His part was about a guest that had brought Mr. Mojri his repaired shoes which he has waxed clean, but because of the excellent reception from the audience, he became a fixed character. Even the name of the show was changed to include his name.