Khaberni - Egyptian novelist Ahmed Murad has sparked widespread debate in recent hours following his statements about his new movie "El Set", in which actress Mona Zaki portrays the character of the "Star of the East" Umm Kulthum. The film is set to be shown in Egyptian and Arab cinemas starting from December 10th this year.
Murad said during a press conference on the sidelines of the 22nd Marrakesh International Film Festival: "The hardest experience I have faced in my life is dealing with the biography of Umm Kulthum.. If we were making a movie about a messenger, it would have been easier, because Umm Kulthum is not just an Egyptian personality, but an Arab and global icon."
This statement caused a wide range of reactions among the audience and critics, where comments were divided between those who considered the comparison of Umm Kulthum to the messengers exaggerated, and those who saw that Murad wanted to express the magnitude of the artistic and moral responsibility placed on the filmmakers.
Various opinions about the comparison spread on social media, further fueling the buzz around the promotional announcement of the film just days before its official release.
In her turn, actress Mona Zaki commented for the first time on the different criticisms and opinions about the promotional announcement of the film "El Set" during a press conference as part of the festival events.
Mona Zaki confirmed that she could not issue a definitive judgment on the reactions, emphasizing the importance of respecting all opinions. She said: "This project is the hardest in my professional life, and its difficulty lies in presenting a legendary character like Umm Kulthum.. If it weren't for the presence and support of director Marwan Hamed, I would not have had the courage to participate in the work.. The screenplay also shows a human side that we may have not known about this great lady."
The movie "El Set" is based on the life story of Umm Kulthum, with screenplay and dialogue by Ahmed Murad and directed by Marwan Hamed. The film stars a group of artists including: Mona Zaki, Ahmed Helmy, Asser Yassin, Karim Abdel Aziz, Mohamed Farag, Ahmed Amin, Amina Khalil, Nelly Karim, Amr Saad, and Sayed Ragab.
