SYRIA: Life of iconic Syrian actor and singer Asmahan depicted in a new TV series

Record ID: 1522794

  • Title: SYRIA: Life of iconic Syrian actor and singer Asmahan depicted in a new TV series
  • Date: 25th June 2008
  • Summary: (MER-1) DAMASCUS, SYRIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) ACTORS AND WORKER ON SET OF TV SERIES / DIRECTOR GIVING A CUE TO START A SCENE SYRIAN ACTOR FIRAS IBRAHIM, WHO PLAYS THE ROLE OF ASMAHAN'S BROTHER FOUAD, ACTING DURING SCENE VARIOUS OF THE DIRECTOR SHAWQI AL-MAJIRI LOOKING AT PROJECTOR SHOWING SCENE FILMED ON SET VARIOUS OF ACTORS ON SET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FIRAS IBRAHIM, SYRIAN ACTOR AND SERIES PRODUCER, SAYING: "There are details in her life that formed her life as well as those around her. She played an effective role in political, social and artistic life. She was young when she died, she was only 27 years old, but she represented dozens of women through her character." EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TALKING WITH HIS ASSISTANTS TECHNICIANS SETTING UP SET GIRL ACTRESS WHO PLAYS THE ROLE OF ASMAHAN'S DAUGHTER KAMILIA READING TEXT WORKERS ON SET PHOTO OF SYRIAN ACTRESS SOULAF FAWAKHERJI, WHO PLAYS THE MAIN ROLE OF ASMAHAN, HANGING IN SET VARIOUS OF SOULAF FAWAKHERJI WITH A CHILD BEFORE SHOOTING OF A SCENE FAWAKHERJI TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SOULAF FAWAKHERJI, SYRIAN ACTRESS WHO PLAYS THE ROLE OF ASMAHAN, SAYING: "We present the character, especially since it is a biographical series, as close as possible to reality. We are not presenting her as an angel or a role model or a symbol. No, she is a human being made of flesh and blood, but we adhere to the social, artistic and cultural guidelines that we all have." VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR SHAWQI AL-MAJIRI TALKING TO ACTORS ON SET AL-MAJIRI TALKING WITH SYRIAN ACTOR ABED FAHED WHO PLAYS THE ROLE OF EMIR HASSAN FAHED TALKING TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PHOTO OF ACTORS IN THEIR ROLE AS ASMAHAN'S FAMILY SYRIAN ACTOR ABDEL HAKIM QUTEIFAN TALKING TO JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDEL HAKIM QUTEIFAN, SYRIAN ACTOR WHO PLAYS ASMAHAN'S FATHER, SAYING: "I hope this series is successful because a lot of effort and good intentions have been invested in it, as well as a lot of financial investment." VARIOUS OF SCENE PLAYED BY LEBANESE ACTRESS WARD AL-KHAL, SYRIAN ACTORS FIRAS IBRAHIM AND ABED FAHED VARIOUS OF SCENE PLAYED BY FIRAS IBRAHIM AND ABED FAHED ACTORS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ON SET
  • Embargoed: 10th July 2008 09:27
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVABNIKLNOWRBH59A7WMFT1WPWY6
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: A new television series being filmed in Syria and featuring renowned Arab actors pays homage to the famous singer Asmahan, whose voice captured audiences across the Arab World and who played a prominent role in public life.
    A series of 30 episodes, due for broadcast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in september, focuses on the life and legacy of the late Syrian-born, Egypt-based singer and actor Asmahan, depicting her life as a famous musician and a public figure.
    "There are details in her life that formed her life as well as those around her. She played an effective role in political, social and artistic life. She was young when she died, she was only 27 years old, but she represented dozens of women through her character," the producer of the series Firas Ibrahim said on the set in the capital Damascus.
    Ibrahim, who also plays the role of Asmahan's brother Fouad, is a member of the cast which brings together Syrian, Lebanese and Egyptian actors.
    The director is Tunisian Shawqi al-Majiri.
    The lead role of Asmahan is played by Syrian actress Soulaf Fawakherji, who tries to portray the human aspects of Asmahan, rather than perpetuate myths surrounding her as an icon.
    "We present the character, especially since it is a biographical series, as close as possible to reality. We are not presenting her as an angel or a role model or a symbol. No, she is a human being made of flesh and blood, but we adhere to the social, artistic and cultural guidelines that we all have," Fawakherji said.
    Gossip, stories and hearsay are the source of much of the information known about Asmahan, from her days of fame and glory in Egypt.
    Born in 1918 as Amal al-Atrash, she belonged to the notable Atrash family, a Druze family which was known for its resistance against the French after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
    She spent her childhood with her family in Lebanon until her mother moved to Egypt when her parents separated in 1923. Her mother struggled to make a living by singing in private parties in Cairo, and managed to put Asmahan and her two brothers through school. But the family remained poor, until Asmahan and her brother, Farid al-Atrash, gained fame and fortune with their successful musical careers.
    In Egypt, Asmahan became a diva, performing as a singer and an actor in films. She was a controversial figure, as she appeared feminine and tasteful on screen, but fast and daring in her private life. Even when glorified, she was cast into her screen persona of a tragic heroine.
    She returned to Syria to marry her cousin, Prince Hassan al-Atrash, in 1933, and gave birth to her daughter Kamilia. She lived in her hometown Sweida, where she was dubbed 'The Princess of the Mountain'. She was proud of her origins and sacrificed her musical ranking when she believed "her people" needed her.
    Her political involvement in World War II was highlighted when she convinced the people of her village to allow British and Free French Forces to enter Syria through their territory to oust forces of the Vichy France rule, liberate Syria and gain its independence.
    After her marriage broke down she went back to Cairo to resume her singing career. After she divorced her second husband there, she returned to Syria to re-marry her cousin.
    Her life and death both have entailed mystery and mystique. She died in a car accident when she was only 27 years old, when the car she was riding in crashed into the Nile River. Many rumours have surrounded her death, including some suggestions that it was a political assassination.
    In her homeland of Syria, producers of 'Asmahan' series hope the show will capture younger audiences who have not been familiar with the story of her life, which incorporated some of the politics in the Middle East.
    "I hope this series is successful because a lot of effort and good intentions have been invested in it, as well as a lot of financial investment," said Syrian Actor Abdel Hakim Quteifan, who plays the role of Asmahan's father.
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