Dariush Mehrjui, a renowned Iranian film director and one of the pioneers of the Iranian new-wave cinema, was discovered deceased along with his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, in their residence near Tehran on a Saturday evening.

The 83-year-old Mehrjui and Mohammadifar both suffered from stab wounds, as reported by Iranian authorities. Local media sources have revealed that four individuals have been linked to the tragic incident.

According to Chief Justice, Hossein Fazeli, Mehrjui had extended an invitation to his daughter for a dinner gathering at their home in Karaj on Saturday night. Upon her arrival, she tragically came upon the lifeless bodies of her parents.

It's worth noting that Mohammadifar, a talented screenwriter and costume designer, had recently expressed concerns about receiving threats and the unfortunate incident of a burglary at their residence.

Iranian actor and director Houman Seyedi was among those who took to social media to react to the killings - describing them as "terrible and brutal".

Mehrjui, who studied in the US as a young man and later lived in France for five years, first rose to national and international prominence with his 1969 film The Cow, which tells the story of a villager's obsession with the titular animal.

His other most notable films include Hamoun, The Pear Tree, and Leila - the latter about an infertile woman who encourages her husband to marry for a second time.

The new wave movement focused mainly on realism but Mehrjui was known to draw inspiration from literature.

He received many awards over the years but while his films were celebrated at international film festivals, some barely saw the light of day in Iran due to censorship.

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