Ali is a well-renowned santoor player and music teacher whose concerts are the talk of the community. He also secretly nurtures a heroin addiction, and supports his habit by playing at weddings and parties after he was disowned by his wealthy and reputable family.
The film charts his decline into despondency as his addiction grows increasingly worse and takes a sizable toll on both his career and personal life. The movie even ventures into gritty shantytowns and the haunts of homeless drug addicts.
'Santoori' is an emotional and intensely watchable drama about one man's downward spiral and the agonising steps he must take towards redemption. Starring internationally acclaimed actress Golshifteh Farahani, Dariush Mehrjui's incisive drug addiction movie is also a must-see for Bahram Radan's brilliant performance which won him the Best Actor Award at the 2007 Fajr International Film Festival.