A public disagreement has emerged following comments made by screenwriter Ahmed Murad regarding the difficulty of portraying historical figures on film. murad, speaking at the Marrakech Film Festival, suggested a biopic about the Prophet Muhammad would be less challenging than one about the iconic Egyptian singer Um Kulthum. The remarks quickly drew criticism from Islamic scholar Mظهر shahin, who publicly responded, deeming them disrespectful and sparking a wider debate about sensitivity when depicting religious and cultural icons.
Mظهر Shahin – Archival Photo
Mظهر Shahin – Archival Photo
A recent comment from screenwriter Ahmed Murad sparked debate after he compared the challenges of making a biopic about Um Kulthum to those of a film about the Prophet Muhammad during a panel discussion at the Marrakech Film Festival.
Islamic scholar Mظهر Shahin quickly responded, writing on Facebook: “What does it mean to say a film about the Prophet would be easier than a film about Um Kulthum? What is this recklessness and lack of respect towards the best of creation?”
Shahin emphasized that the status of the Prophet is beyond comparison, regardless of artistic intent.
Murad had stated during the panel, “I always say that if I were to make a film about the Prophet, it would be a little easier, because Um Kulthum is not just an Egyptian woman, she is a global and Arab icon.”
“The Six” (Al-Set) stars Ahmed Helmy, Karim Abdelaziz, Amr Saad, Mohamed Farrag, Asser Yassin, and Nelly Karim. The film is written by Ahmed Murad and directed by Marwan Hamed.
Mona Zaki, who portrays Um Kulthum, dedicated significant effort to the role, arriving five hours before filming each day to undergo transformation by a foreign team, ensuring an accurate depiction of the iconic singer. This dedication underscores the meticulous approach taken in bringing the story of the “Star of the East” to the screen.
