December 31 is the anniversary of the birth of the lady of Arab singing and the planet of the East, Mrs. Umm Kulthum, who was born on this day in 1898. In the village of Tamay Al-Zahayra in the Sinbillawin Center in Dakahlia Governorate. Since her childhood, God has endowed her with a strong, different voice that captivated the hearts of millions of lovers in Egypt and the Arab world until she became an immortal icon in the world of singing. In addition to dozens of songs and poems, Kawkab Al Sharq participated in several films. However, she initially rejected the idea of acting for fear of her father’s reaction. Still, she decided to take the experience in the mid-thirties after her father’s death. In the following report, we will show you films in which the woman of Arab singing participated.
Wedad
The movie “Wedad” is Umm Kulthum’s first movie, in which she presented the role of a beautiful maid with a strong voice, owned by a merchant and whom he loves with all his heart. However, when his business collapses due to the seizure of the caravan in which he put all his money, he loses his business. The debt holders begin to ask him to pay it, so he is forced to sell everything he owns, which is insufficient to pay off his debt.
The movie was made in 1935. It was written by Ahmed Rami and a script and dialogue by Ahmed Badrakhan. German Fritz Kramp directed it. The film co-starred Ahmed Allam, Mukhtar Othman, Coca. The film included seven songs: “O smeller of glory, O sign of goodness, the O night your stars are witnesses, salute the spring, why oh time was my love, oh the one whose love is mine, oh bird, living captive.”
You raised my hopes (Song of Hope)
In the movie “Anthem of hope,” Umm Kulthum presented the role of a wife named Amal, who suffers from the difficulties of life after her husband divorces her and leaves her alone with her sick daughter. She meets a doctor, Assem, who treats her daughter, discovers her talent for singing, and helps her find a job to use her artistic talent. He proposes to her after they fall in love. However, her ex-husband continues to chase after her, guide her and blackmail her until the order comes to shoot her.
The movie was made in 1937. It was written by Edmond Twima, script and dialogue by Ahmed Ramy. Ahmed Badrakhan directed it. It co-stars Zaki Tulaimat, Mary Mounib, Abbas Fares, Stephan Rosti. The film included nine songs: “You raised my hopes, Sleep, Sleep, oh joy of the feast, oh you the creator of beauty, oh glory, oh my longing for you, rejoice, my heart, I spent my life, the university anthem, oh Nile youth.”
Dananeer
Umm Kulthum participated in the movie “Dananeer,” which occurs during the era of Harun al-Rashid, the fifth caliph of the Abbasid state. The character of the sweet-sounding Bedouin girl, whom Minister Jaafar Al-Mansour listens to in the desert by chance, performed on his return from travel. He asks her to come with him to his urban palace to learn the principles of singing. Dananeer goes with him, and love combines between their hearts. She begins to sing at his parties, and when Harun al-Rashid listens to her, he admires her voice and asks Jaafar to guide her to him to be the singer of his palace. Jaafar hesitates because of his love for her, so some haters exploit his hesitation and plot plots against him until they can change his image before the caliph and convince him of his willingness to seize the caliphate. Harun al-Rashid orders to kill Jaafar. Dananeer refuses to sing to the caliph and cries for her beloved Jaafar. Hence, he lets her return to her Bedouin life after being impressed by her loyalty to her lover.
The movie was made in 1939. Ahmed Rami wrote it, and a script was written by Ahmed Rami. Ahmed Badrakhan directed it. The film is co-starring Suleiman Najib, Abbas Fares, Amr Wasfi. The film included eight songs: “Tell your memory to bend, We travel tomorrow, the chirping birds have left you, the sun has gone away, welcome the night of the feast, oh my heart, sing the tunes of fulfillment, the blossom is in the garden, the sweet breeze is good.”
Aida
In the movie “Aida,” Umm Kulthum embodied the role of a rural girl whose poor father works in Ezbet Amin Pasha and Suleiman Bey’s sister. Aida’s father is killed while defending the estate after a thief tries to steal cattle and farm produce. The Pasha pledges to take care of Aida to return her father’s favor. Aida joins the Conservatory of Music with the help of Suleiman Bey. When she returns to the estate, Sami Ibn Al-Basha declares his love for her and asks her to marry. Still, the Basha objects and accuses Aida of exploiting him and setting up his son. She goes to a music institute and refuses to return to the manor again. In her graduation ceremony, the institute presents the opera Aida in partnership with the Faculty of Arts students where Sami studies. The minister attends the ceremony and next to him is Amin Pasha and Suleiman Bey, who at the end of the ceremony introduces his heroes Aida and Sami to the minister and invites him to attend their wedding, so Amin Pasha finds himself involved in front of the minister, and is forced to agree to the marriage.
The movie was made in 1942. It was written by Abdel-Warith Asher, script and dialogue by Fathi Nashati and Abbas Younis. It was directed by Ahmed Badrakhan. The film is co-starring Suleiman Najib, Abbas Ibrahim Hammouda,. The film included 6 songs: “Opera Aida, we are alone, the kindness of my beloved and my congratulations, please, what time, cotton opened, oh joy of loved ones”.
Salama
The film “Salama” takes place in the era of the Umayyad dynasty, and Umm Kulthum played the role of a maid with a charming voice working for Sheikh Abu Al-Wafa, who threatened to sell her if she began to sing again. His gift is carried out and Salama is sold to Ibn Suhail, and she becomes a famous singer, and has a love affair with Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Jass. Ibn Suhail refuses to sell her to him to marry her, so she runs away from him and Abdul Rahman begins his journey to search for her. He volunteers in the Muslim armies, to fight the enemies of the Umayyad state, and defeats the enemies of the Caliph Yazid, who bought Salama after her escape, and left her to Abd al-Rahman when he knew his love for her. But Abdul Rahman is injured in one of the battles and dies in the hands of Salama.
The movie was made in 1945. It was written by Ali Ahmed Bakathir, and the script and dialogue by Bayram Al-Tunisi. It was directed by Togo Mizrahi. The film is co-starring Yahya Shaheen, Abdel Razek Asser, Fouad Shafik, Stephen Rosti. The film included 8 songs: “Peace, sing me a little bit, say it and don’t be afraid, with your consent, they said I love the priest Salama, oh eye, oh eye, in the light of your face, remember when you were beside me.”
Fatima
The movie “Fatima” is Umm Kulthum’s last movie, in which she played the role of a poor nurse who takes care of a sick pasha. Fathi, the Pasha’s brother, falls in love with her, and tries to seduce her, but he fails. He finds no solution but to marry her, and in fact he marries her with a customary marriage contract. His older brother gets angry at his customary marriage to the poor girl and expels him from the palace. Fathi can’t stand life in Fatima’s modest house in the neighborhood, and tries to win the Pasha’s satisfaction by marrying an aristocratic girl, so that he returns to the palace again. He leaves Fatima, who gave birth to her child from him, refuses to recognize the child, and steals the customary marriage contract at the request of the Pasha. However, Fatima kept a copy of the marriage contract, and the people of the neighborhood helped her to file a case against Fathi. At the same time, Fathi discovers the betrayal of his aristocratic wife, so he goes to Fatima, regretting what he did to her and confessing the lineage of his son to him.
The movie was made in 1948. It was written by Mustafa Amin, screenplay by Ahmed Badrakhan, and dialogue by Badi’ Khairy. It was directed by Ahmed Badrakhan. The film is co-starring Anwar Wagdy, Suleiman Najib, Hassan Fayek, Mimi Shakib. The film included 9 songs: “The language of flowers, a strong victory, O good morning, your light, O six of all, people have wronged me, the beauty of the world, I will meet him tomorrow, I will preserve my dignity, O you who have been deprived of tenderness.”
Umm Kulthum in cinema and television
No one disputes the unprecedented position that Umm Kulthum has reached, as she is one of the landmarks of authentic rapture in the Arab world. Her artistic biography and history have become a heritage passed on by generations, from which drama makers draw inspiration from the most beautiful stories and series. Therefore, the biography of the woman of Arab singing, Umm Kulthum, has been presented in many films and television series, and here are the most prominent works in which Umm Kulthum appeared.
East Planet movie
Movie released in July 1999. It deals with a specific period of Umm Kulthum’s life, since 1944, reviewing her unfinished emotional relationships, her relationship to the revolution and her role after the defeat of 1967. Actress Ferdous Abdel Hamid played her role.
Umm Kulthum series
TV series that aired in December 1999. It tells the complete biography of Umm Kulthum since her upbringing in Sinbillawain and her journey with her father and siblings in singing religious songs, passing through her artistic career and the love stories she experienced during her life, and the crises she encountered during her artistic work and social life. Actress Sabreen played her role.
The Nightingale series, the story of a people
TV series that premiered in September 2006. It deals with the life of the artist Abdel Halim Hafez, played by the young artist Shadi Shamil. There was part of the events revolving around Umm Kulthum, whose role was embodied by the artist Salma Gharib.
King Farouq series
TV series that premiered in September 2007. It deals with the reign of King Farouk I, the last of the rulers of Egypt from the family of Muhammad Ali, the founder of modern Egypt, played by the artist Tim Hassan. While the role of Umm Kulthum, singer Reham Abdel Hakim.
Series Ana, my heart, my guide
TV series that premiered in September 2009. It deals with the biography of the artist Leila Murad, played by the artist Safa Sultan. While the role of Umm Kulthum was embodied by the artist Farah Ismail.