The National Media Authority in Egypt announced the re-broadcasting of the historical series "Umm Kulthum", in an official move widely interpreted as a reaction to the widespread controversy stirred by the new movie "The Lady".
The journalist Ahmed El-Moslemany, head of the National Media Authority, announced the broadcast of the Umm Kulthum series, which was produced in 1999 and is considered one of the most prominent dramas about the lady of Arabic singing, through the screen of the first Egyptian channel, starting from the day after tomorrow, Monday, at exactly 5 PM, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the departure of the Eastern Star Umm Kulthum.
El-Moslemany stated that the lady of Arabic singing is the lady of values and principles and a symbol of patriotism and Arabism, and she is the ceiling of Arab art that no one has reached, and she alone stands towering at the peak of the mount of creativity, with no one else beside her there.
He added that in reviving the memory of the Eastern Star, we re-broadcast the masterpiece of the great director Inaam Mohammed Ali Umm Kulthum series, starring the great actress Sabreen, with the participation of a group of Egyptian art stars, who created an unparalleled artistic epic.
This decision comes amidst a storm of controversy stirred by the movie "The Lady" starring Mona Zaki, which presents a dramatic human vision of Umm Kulthum's biography, focusing on personal and psychological aspects that provoked sharp criticisms from some who see it as a distortion of the sacred image of the national icon.
On the other hand, the film achieved significant popular success, and others praised it for its courage in making The Lady more accessible to new generations.
The statement by the writer Ahmed Morad that a work about Umm Kulthum is "harder than a film about the Messenger" sparked additional outrage, despite his later apology, as artists like Mohamed Sobhy and Saeed Ali attacked the film, while others defended it as a bold artistic vision.
The re-broadcasting of the classic series, which is considered the most successful in portraying the character of Umm Kulthum, is seen as an official confirmation of preserving the traditional revered heritage of the Eastern Star, at a time when the artistic community is divided on how to handle the biographies of historical icons.
