Egyptian TV series Half of the People Are Called Mohamed exposes social hypocrisy - Screens - Arts & Culture

Al-Ahram Weekly

06-04-2025

The Ramadan TV series Half of the People Are Called Mohamed (Nos El-Shaab Esmo Mohamed) has sparked controversy, with critics and social media influencers questioning its lack of depth.
The series, directed by Abdel-Aziz El-Naggar, is a comedic drama that follows the chaotic life of Mohamed (Essam Omar).
Mohamed, secretly married and has a child, believes he can manage multiple relationships without facing the consequences. So, he proposes to Sarah (Mayan El-Sayed), thinking he can get the best of both worlds.
His carefully crafted plan unravels when fate and, more specifically, nosy mothers start meddling in his life. As his two worlds collide, Mohamed finds himself caught in a web of lies and deceit, struggling to keep his secrets hidden.
The controversy about Mohamed and his lifestyle started even before the series concluded. It addressed a plot that had not evolved yet and, as such, was missing a more comprehensive presentation of the topic at hand.
The series discusses a crucial issue in Egyptian society: hypocrisy, a social ailment that affects many people today.
The drama capitalizes on a clever premise: Mohamed is a common name in Egyptian society.
Thus, whenever various individuals come together in a single space and recount negative experiences with someone named Mohamed, it is unlikely they would assume that the Mohamed they are all criticizing is the same person.
The writer, Mohamed Ragaa, develops his narrative from this point, shedding light on social hypocrisy. Mohamed, the multifaceted hypocrite, is a familiar figure and a widespread phenomenon in our societies.
Critics have also commented on scenes of domestic violence, such as the husband slapping his wife because she removed her headscarf, an issue worth highlighting. This same husband is also orchestrating a scheme to defraud his mother-in-law.
Similarly, the critique of the protagonist's lascivious behaviour on his way to perform the Friday prayers is valid. We are dealing with a charlatan and a hypocrite who uses religious piety to mask his immoral actions.
Again, these characters are human archetypes, whether males or females, present in our society, and by addressing those characters, we can start purifying society.
Catharsis has been a dramatic device since Plato's time, so why do we not use it now, with a comedic twist that brings a smile amid the absurdity created by Mohamed, the series' protagonist portrayed by the rising star, Essam Omar?
The screenwriter has woven the drama's narrative so that the story unfolds over a short timeframe, no longer than two months.
We are presented with a rapid series of events that reveal the complexities of the main characters and the secondary characters who significantly influenced Mohamed's decisions and those of his wife, fiancée, and mistress.
We gradually explore the intricacies of the relationships between all the characters, building toward the climax of the conflict and then heading toward the resolution presented by the author.
With his skillful drama management, Rajaa avoids excessive length and brevity, delivering a compelling and well-constructed drama that maintained our interest until the conclusion, which was unconventional and full of subtle irony.
Director El-Naggar also effectively handles the drama's elements, delivering scenes with a tempo that matches the pace of the narrative and camera angles that capture the essence of each character.
His depiction of the characters was equally impressive, particularly Batta (Rania Youssef). He allowed the actress to free herself from the diva image she had long embraced.
Meanwhile, Omar has added to his acting repertoire a role that solidifies his stardom and proves his recent prominence.
The series has also pinpointed Dunia Sami's notable artistic talent in the role of Naglaa, the mistress.
However, Mayan El-Sayed's performance as Sarah did not particularly stand out, and Hager El-Sarraj's portrayal of Mai was superficial and lacked depth.
The character of Mervat also reaffirmed veteran actress Sherine's distinction and artistic talent.
It is clear that Sherine and Rania Youssef, together, have played pivotal roles in the series' success and in attracting attention to it.
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