Producers Look Abroad For An Actress To Play Egyptian Diva Umm Kalthoum

In a controversial move, Egyptian director Majdi Ahmad Ali has told reporters he is looking outside Egypt for an actress to play his nation’s most famous singer in a new biopic.

Majdi says he has set his sights on Tunisian actress, Hind Sabri, known for her work on Ramadan dramas and as a judge on international film festivals, to play legendary diva Umm Kulthum.So far Hind has refused to say one way or the other whether she’ll be taking on the role of “the greatest female singer in Arabic history.”

It is quite a responsiblity for a non-Egyptian although despite Umm Kulthum’s fame, Hind would not be the star of the show. Majdi’s drama, ‘Midah al Qamar’ actually tells the story of another legendary Egyptian singer: Baligh Hamdi, who composed many songs for Umm Kulthum over the years. The story is said to shed light on his journey into the entertainment business, including his relationships with a number of divas from that time.

Albawaba