Egyptian TV continues to celebrate the legacy of the Star of the East, Umm Kulthum, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of her departure, where it was decided to rebroadcast the "Umm Kulthum" series directed by Inaam Mohamed Ali and starring the artist Sabreen, on Channel One, starting from the day after tomorrow, Monday, at exactly 5:00 PM.
The writer Ahmed Al-Muslemani, head of the National Media Authority, said that Umm Kulthum represents the lady of values and principles and a symbol of nationalism and Arabism, considering her the pinnacle of Arab art that no one has reached, and that she still maintains her unique status in the Arab cultural memory.
Al-Muslemani added that the rerun of the series comes within the framework of reviving the memory of the Star of the East, through one of the most prominent dramatic works that addressed her artistic and human biography, pointing out that the work constituted an artistic epic involving a group of Egyptian drama stars, and left a prominent impact in the history of television drama.
Widespread debate and criticisms
The rerun of the series comes at a time when there is widespread debate about the film "Al-Sitt," which deals with the autobiography of Umm Kulthum, starring Mona Zaki and directed by Marwan Hamed, after the work sparked a division in public opinion, on the background of criticisms from some historians and specialists who spoke about historical and medical errors in dealing with the character of the Star of the East, despite the film achieving high revenues.
In the context of the debate, Turki Al-Sheikh, head of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, issued an official statement denying any role of Riyadh Season in producing, directing, or preparing the film, confirming that the relationship was limited to sponsorship only, and came after the complete production of the work, without any intervention in its artistic content or details.
Al-Sheikh clarified that the film "Al-Sitt" has obtained all the official licenses from the competent regulatory authorities in Egypt, confirming that it is a purely Egyptian production by 100%, and that dragging the name of Riyadh Season or linking it with the production of the film is not based on accurate information, emphasizing the need to distinguish between the concept of sponsorship and the direct production role.
Defense
Conversely, the Egyptian director Mohamed Diab defended the filmmakers, rejecting what he described as unjustified accusations of the work's involvement in a foreign conspiracy against Egyptian art.
Diab said that the audience has the right to evaluate the works artistically, but considered that doubting the integrity of the filmmakers or accusing them of betraying their artistic conscience is unacceptable
Diab's statements came in response to criticisms from the artist Mohamed Sobhy, who emphasized during a television intervention the importance of adhering to historical accuracy when dealing with national symbols, considering that artistic value alone is not enough to justify any transgressions that affect the Egyptian cultural memory,
Details of the work
The film "Al-Sitt" showcases the autobiography of the Star of the East, focusing on the human and personal aspects, alongside the most prominent milestones in her artistic journey, with a large number of stars of Egyptian cinema participating, in a work authored by Ahmed Murad and directed by Marwan Hamed, which is considered one of the largest collective cinematic productions in recent years.
