Ramadan serials maintain furious pace to meet production deadlines

By Nohad Topalian in Beirut
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-04-10

[FILE] Stars and production studios are busy preparing favourite and new Ramadan programs.

Since mid-March, film studios have been in a race to finish shooting serials to be aired during the month of Ramadan starting in early August.

This season's offerings include new titles as well as sequels, including the Syrian series "Bab Al-Hara" and part two of the Egyptian sitcom "Beit Al-Aila." Ramadan television will mark the return of a number of stars, writers and directors from years past.

Sixty Egyptian stars appear in the series "Al-Hara," expected to be one of the greatest dramas of the season and one of the most expensive to produce.

"Al-Hara," is the first television work of filmmaker Sameh Abdel Aziz and screenwriter Ahmad Abdullah, includes big names like Karima Mokhtar, Salah Abdullah, Nelly Karim, Sawsan Badr, Hamdi Ahmed, and Afaf Shoaib.

"Al-Hara" portrays Egyptian citizens living in the current economic climate and addresses relationships and the reality of the Egyptian working class.

"Thakira Al-Jasid", written by Algerian author Ahlam Mosteghanemi, will be filmed for Abu Dhabi TV. Mosteghanemi wrote the novel 17 years ago and it has been translated into several languages. Syrian Najdat Anzour is directing, and the screenplay was written by Reem Hanna. It will star Syrian actor Jamal Suleiman and Algerian artist Amal Bachucha.

Other Ramadan serials in the process of filming include "Qisa Hub"—a new name for the series "Hadour wa Insiraf"—starring Syrian Jamal Suleiman, directed by first-time director Ayman Hadad and written by Medhat Al-Adel.

After a four-year absence Nadia Al-Jundi stars in "Malaka fil Al-Manfa," playing the role of Queen Nazli. The series is written by Rawia Rashid and directed by Syrian Mohammad Zuhair.

Also returning, after a two-year hiatus, is actress Samira Ahmed in "Mama fil Qism," alongside Mahmoud Yassin and Khiria Ahmed. Actress Poussy, returns in the series "Burah Al-Dunya," while actress Hind Subri chose a role in the serial "Aiza Atagawez."

After a four-year absence since playing "King Farouk," Syrian actor Tim Al-Hassan is returning to Egyptian drama in the serial "Kun Sadiqan Lidiyan," based on the novel by late author Maher Abdul Hamid and directed by Nader Galal.

Ghada Adel is also returning in the series "Farah Al-Omda," written by Mustafa Moharam and directed by Ahmed Saqr.

Also from Egypt comes a diverse collection of serials, including "Ikhtifa Saeed Mahran," written by Mohammad Helmy Helal and directed by Said Hamid. It stars Hisham Salim, Dora Al-Tunisia, Sawsan Badr and Ahmed Bedier. After a long wait, filming began on the series "Mamlakat Al-Jabal," written by Salama Hammouda, directed by Magdi Ahmed Ali and starring Amr Saad, Ahmed Bdeir, Abeer Sabri and Reem Al-Baroudi.

The serials "Reesh Al-Naam," "Al-Dahak Al-Baki Najib Al-Rihani" will be filmed this month. The resumption of filming is likewise anticipated for serials including "Muntaha Al-Ashaq," written by Mohammad Al-Ghaity, directed by Mohammad Al-Najjar and starring Mustafa Amar and Jordanian Diana Karazon.

"Azwaj Al-Haja Zahara," written by Mustafa Moharam, directed by Mohammad Al-Nukaly and starring Ghada Abdel Razek, Hassan Youssef and Bassem Bakhur is also being filmed.

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