In what seems to be a concerted attempt to win popularity, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's official website and several news outlets close to his hardline supporters have published a series of carefully selected videos that among other things, portray Khamenei as an intelligent man who appreciates criticism.

The Telegram channels of IRGC-linked Fars and Tasnim news agencies also featured a series of these videos on Thursday, December 24 that show Khamenei among Iranian filmmakers and pro-regime Islamic 'intellectuals' exchanging views light-heartedly and cracking jokes while patiently listening and reacting to criticisms by the guests sitting on the floor around the large gallery where Khamenei usually holds his public meetings.

The criticisms are usually about limitations that annoy filmmakers and TV producers, but Khamenei says in the videos that those restrictions need not be there and artists should be free to express their views.

Some Iranians on social media noted that the videos were recorded some two weeks after the January 2018 nationwide protests during which scores of demonstrators were arrested or killed by security forces. 

The videos are said to be part of a series of "unofficial documentary" programs simultaneously aired on two of Iran's state television's more than 50 channels. 

Although some observers have interpreted the development as a bid by Khamenei to win popularity, others say one of the reasons why these videos are being aired now is to counter recent speculations about Khamenei possibly being too ill to appear in public.

In one part of the videos, Khamenei expressed appreciation for a movie called "The Lizard" which is about a thief going around disguised as a cleric offering solutions for social problems.

When the comedy was screened in the early 2000s, Hassan Rouhani was one of the clerics that launched a campaign against it and had the movie banned, but public screening was resumed reportedly after Khamenei intervened in the matter.

Khamenei said in one of the videos that such movies should be welcomed rather than banned. He was also shown hugging the film's director Kamal Tabrizi who happens to be one of the young Iranians who occupied the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held over 50 US diplomats hostage 444 days.   

Another video shows Khamenei listening to an angry young man during a meeting with what the video calls "jihadist groups." The term is loosely used in Iran for ‘selfless’ revolutionaries who are devoted to Iran's clerical system and has nothing to do with jihadist terrorists in the Middle East.  

During 30 years of his rule, Khamenei has harshly reacted to any protest and has consistently called the protesters "the agents of the enemy" or "those who are supported by foreigners."

Some social media users have said that Khamenei is trying to distance himself from the widespread suppression of protesters. One social media user noted that even some of those present in the meeting have been subsequently arrested and beaten.

Others say that as Khamenei looked sleepy and sounded lethargic during his latest public appearances, the old videos are meant to portray him as healthy, alert and witty with a good sense of humor.

A few weeks ago when rumors had it that Khamenei was ill and possibly dead, Mehdi Fazaeli, an official in his office, officially denied the rumors and told the press that he is actively taking part in his office's activities.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in February in Iran, Khamenei has had a very limited number of public appearances. Following his latest speech in mid-December, the media noted that a crack in his voice possibly indicated that he is not well.