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Egyptian actor faces challenge in iconic role of singer Umm Kulthum

At the Marrakech International Film Festival, Mona Zaki, Egyptian actor, studied Umm Kulthum's physicality, posture, and vocal timbre before the film opens at Paris's Olympia.
The film seeks to celebrate her legacy, highlighting how Umm Kulthum revolutionised Arabic music by blending classical poetry with grand orchestral arrangements, director Marwan Hamed said.
Rewinding to her early life, Umm Kulthum's imam father disguised her as a boy in a Nile Delta village, while her marathon-length concerts and signature scarf and sunglasses defined her persona.
Zaki said the role felt daunting and admitted she was very scared at the start, and she described Umm Kulthum as `She is the voice of the Arab people and embodies hope, strength, and resistance`.
The film positions Umm Kulthum as inspiring international listeners, with Hamed said, `When you watch her on stage, you see a lot of power, but actually behind that was a lot of vulnerability.

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