محمد صبحي ينتقد فيلم “الست” ويهاجم منى زكي

A new controversy is brewing in Egypt’s film industry over “The Woman,” a recently released biopic about the legendary singer Umm Kulthum. Veteran actor Mohamed Sobhy has publicly criticized the film, expressing concerns about it’s historical accuracy and directing blame at star Mona Zaki for her involvement. Sobhy leveled his critique during an appearance on the popular program “Hadret El Mowaten,” sparking a debate over the obligation of filmmakers when portraying national icons.

Veteran Egyptian actor Mohamed Sobhy has publicly criticized the new biopic “The Woman,” focusing on the life of iconic singer Umm Kulthum, and expressed disappointment with star Mona Zaki.

Appearing on the program “Hadret El Mowaten” (Citizen’s Presence), Sobhy stated, “As an actor, if I’m offered a film or play that, while potentially brilliant, deviates from the truth, I cannot do it. I blame my student and dear one, Mona Zaki, and I am proud of her, for falling into such a misstep.”

Sobhy shared personal memories of Umm Kulthum, recalling, “I worked selling tickets for her concerts while I was still in preparatory school, and I witnessed the respect people had for her as they came to buy tickets.”

He vehemently defended the singer’s reputation, adding, “They’ve portrayed Umm Kulthum as stingy… but there was no one more generous than the Lady Umm Kulthum.”

Sobhy recounted a specific incident: “Once, I bought a ticket for 3 Egyptian pounds – at a time when I earned 1 pound a day – just to sit in the front row and hear her. The owner of the charity concert came to tell me that Umm Kulthum wanted that seat for a guest from Egypt, and I refused. He told her in her room, and she asked for me to be brought to her.”

“I entered her room and she turned to the door, saying, ‘What’s this… a child… My dear, I have an important guest who needs to sit in that chair.’ I told her, ‘I am more important, I want to hear you and I am proud to have sat in the front rows to hear you, O Queen.’ She then said, ‘I will seat you in a better place than the front row,’ and I cried. She took my hand and said she would sing and dedicate a song to me. After the concert, she gave me an envelope containing 50 pounds.”

Sobhy emphasized Umm Kulthum’s enduring legacy, stating, “Umm Kulthum is a great figure that no one can break. I always tell my fellow artists that when creating a biography of an artist, stay away from their personal life. I don’t want to watch a film about Naguib El-Rihani’s marriages or divorces or who he lived with. I want to discuss his artistic life, his struggles through his art to present his work. It is not right to present an artist’s personal life because it will contain more and more lies.”

“The Woman” aims to portray the life of “The Star of the East,” Umm Kulthum, and features a screenplay by Ahmed Murad, direction by Marwan Hamed, and a cast including Amr Saad, Ahmed Helmy, Karim Abdel Aziz, Asser Yassin, Nelly Karim, Amina Khalil, and Amir El-Masry. The film is the latest in a string of biopics gaining popularity in the region, offering a glimpse into the lives of cultural icons.