Latest news with #EssamOmar
Al-Ahram Weekly
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egyptian TV series Half of the People Are Called Mohamed exposes social hypocrisy - Screens - Arts & Culture
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. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
ET Ultimate Guide to Eid El Fitr Arabic Movies
In a blend of comedy and social drama, 'Siko Siko' follows two young men—one working at a shipping company and the other a video gamer—who find themselves entangled in a dangerous situation full of unexpected twists. As the stakes rise, they struggle to escape with minimal losses. Starring Essam Omar, Taha Desouky, Ali Sobhy, Bassem Samra, Khaled El-Sawy, Tara Emad, Dayana Hisham, Ahmed Abdel-Hamid, Mahmoud Sadeq Haddouta, and more, the film is written by Mohamed El-Dabbah and directed by Omar El-Mohandes. Ali Rabie has chosen the comedy film 'El Safa El Thanawya Banat' (El Safa Girls' High School) for the Eid El Fitr movie season. The story follows an ambitious teacher who gets a job at an all-girls school, leading to a series of hilarious situations. Written by Walid Abu El-Magd and Amin Gamal and directed by Amr Salah, the film stars Os Os, Mohamed Tharwat, Bayoumi Fouad, Sara El-Shamy, Lina Sofia, Jessica Hossam, and more. The fourth film, Far B Saba'a Arwah (A Mouth with Seven Souls' stars Ahmed Fathy, Farah El Zahed, Wizo, Mahmoud Hafez, Nada Moussa, Otaka, Edward, and Soliman Eid. Written by Mohamed Sheeba and directed by Shadi Ali, this comedy intertwines seven distinct stories featuring a diverse cast. All are humorously connected by a mysterious corpse that bounces between them, causing mayhem in their lives as they scramble to get rid of it.
Egypt Independent
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Independent
‘Seko Seko' leads Eid al-Fitr movie box office with huge revenue
'Seko Seko' dominated the cinema box office on the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, Monday, pulling in 8,544,000 Egyptian pounds from approximately 650,200 tickets sold. This brings the box office revenue for 'Seko Seko' to 10.5 million Egyptian pounds in its first 48 hours, making it the number one film in the Eid al-Fitr 2025 movie season. 'Seko Seko' is a social comedy about two young men, a shipping company employee and a video game player, who find themselves in trouble. Their attempts to escape lead them through unexpected twists and turns as they try to minimize the damage. The cast includes Essam Omar, Taha Desouky, Ali Sobhy, Bassem Samra, Khaled El Sawy, Tara Emad, Diana Hesham, Ahmed Abdelhamid, Mahmoud Sadek Hadouta, and others. The film is written by Mohamed El Dabbah and directed by Omar El Mohandes.
Identity
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Identity
4 Reasons Why We're Excited About ‘Siko'
Eid is just around the corner, and a trip to the cinema is a staple activity this time of year. Among this year's lineup of Eid releases, @filmsquare's Siko movie stands out as one of the most anticipated films. Nothing coincidental, there are plenty of reasons why this movie in particular has earned a spot on everyone's watchlist for the weeks ahead. The Duo of Taha Dessouky & Essam Omar Ever since we found out this duo was teaming up, expectations instantly doubled. With both Taha and Essam making waves this Ramadan, their quick shift into comedy movies under the creative minds of Omar El Mohandes and Mohamed El Dabbah feels like the perfect move. Given how much we already love their real-life friendship, we have a feeling we will equally love their on-screen dynamic. An All-Star Cast That Delivers With names like Bassem Samra, Tara Emad, Aly Sobhy, Khaled El Sawy, Diana Hesham, and comedians Waleed El Moghazy, Ahmed Essam, and more, the cast already feels like a guaranteed win. This lineup is expected to deliver the kind of performance that'll crack us up. Interesting & Relatable Characters As hinted in the trailer, Siko seems to introduce a lineup of relatable characters that instantly grab attention. From the nervous overthinker to the classic nerd, the one who laughs at literally anything, and the dreamy soul living in their butterfly-filled world—Siko's gang already feels like a fun, chaotic group we can't wait to watch on screen. The Mystery Behind 'Siko' And here comes the big question: What does 'Siko' even stand for? That mystery alone adds an extra layer of excitement to the whole story, keeping us curious and wondering what it'll turn out to mean.
See - Sada Elbalad
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
TV Series 'Nos Al Shab Esmo Mohamed' to Screen in Second Half of Ramadan
The comedy series "Nos Al Shab Esmo Mohamed" (Half of the People Are Called Mohamed) is set to be screened in the second half of the Ramadan 2025 drama marathon. The drama stars Essam Omar, Rania Youssef, Sherine, Mayan El Sayed, Hagar ElSarrag, Mohamed Mahmoud, Donia Sami, Mohamed Abdelazim, and more. "Nos Al Shab Esmo Mohamed" consists of 15 episodes and hails from director Abdelaziz El Naggar and scriptwriter Mohamed Ragaa. The official logline for the drama reads, "Stuck in the endless cycle of his daily routine, Mohamed devises a plan to switch his life around, disregarding everyone else's feelings. Little does he know, fate has its own surprise for him and his cunning ruses..". Omar participated last Ramadan with the TV series " Massar Egbari". The cast also includes Ahmed Dash, Sabrien, Yasmina El Abd, Basma, Jory Bakr, May Elghety, and more. The series is a social thriller genre consisting of 15 episodes and hails from screenwriter Baher Dowaidar and director Nadine Khan.
