Umm kulthum was egypts bestbeloved singer of the classical style and her voice transcended national boundaries. The voice of egypt she had the musical chops of ella fitzgerald, the public persona of eleanor roosevelt, and the audience of elvis presley. She had to dress as a boy since girls could not recite and sing quranic verses in public. Shirin neshat looks for umm kulthum in her new feature film daily. Umm kulthum, arabic song, and egyptian society in the twentieth century. Lesson 9 umm kulthums relationship to president gamal. Umm kulthum was a strong supporter of arab nationalism and her relationship with nasir proved to be mutually beneficial. At a biographical level, its important to mention that umm kulthum was a private person who fought all her life to remain an image. Fans of legendary egyptian singer umm kulthum are rightfully excited about renowned iranian artist shirin neshats new film looking for oum. The film puts her life in the context of the epic story of 20th century egypt as it shook off colonialism and confronted modernity. Looking for oum kulthum is a 2017 internationally coproduced drama film about the egyptian diva umm kulthum, directed by shirin neshat in collaboration.
The lady of cairo umm kulthums legendary concerts were broadcast live from cairo, on the first thursday of each month from the 1930s to the early 70s. Umm kulthum was born to a poor egyptian family around 1904 her exact birthday is unconfirmed in the nile delta. Her birth date is unconfirmed, as birth registration was not enforced throughout egypt at that time. Plans were made for her to premiere a new piece, hakam alayna alhawa. She was born in the year 603 ce, and was a year younger than hz ruqayyah ra. A clip of umm kulthum reciting the quran in the film fatma. Several of these were connected directly to the islamic prophet muhammad. Umm kulthum was an egyptian singer, songwriter, and film actress active from the 1920s to the 1970s. Arooh lemeen 3 umm kulthum om kolthoum by abuali1986. Her career paralleled egypts shifting position in the world during the 20th century, from british colonial rule to independence. Various spellings include om kalthoum, oum kalsoum, and umm kolthoum. Umm kulthum performs amal hayati you are the hope of my life as president gamal abdel nasser enters the concert hall in cairo. Her birth date is unconfirmed, as birth registration was not enforced throughout egypt at that era. A voice like egypt is an excellent portrait of the singers legacy.
On january 21, 1975, kulthum suffered a kidney attack. Her father was the village imam, a prayer leader, and taught her the quran, which she is known for having memorized. A film within a film, looking for oum kulthum is the plight of an iranian woman artistfilmmaker living in exile, as she embarks on capturing the. Nov 18, 20 a compilation of images that will inform shirin neshat and shoja azaris forthcoming film about the egyptian singer umm kulthum. Featuring concert footage, film clips and interviews with the famed singers friends and colleagues, goldmans documentary places the life and career of umm. Umm kulthum was known for her vocal ability and unique style.
Umm kulthum, egyptian singer whose performances mesmerized arab audiences from the persian gulf to morocco for half a century. Umm kulthum was born in the village of tamay ezahayra, belonging to the city of senbellawein, dakahlia governorate, in the nile delta. These concerts were much publicized and took on the character of state visits. Oum kalthoum, oum kalsoum, oum kalthum, omm kolsoum, umm kolthoum, om kolthom. Though i feel very close to the figure of umm kulthum, this film will also mark a major departure for me. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. Uthman was displeased but he went to ask muhammad about it.
Umm kulthum 4 di maiu 1904 3 di frivaru 1975 era una di cchiu celibbri cantanti du munnu arabu, e li soi dischi vennu vinnuti ancora oggi. Hz umm kulthum ra was initially married to utaybah, one of the sons of abu lahab. Umm kulthum sings for president gamal abdel nasser upon. Her father was the head of a village mosque and her mother stayed at home raising umm kulthum and her two siblings.
Jan 18, 2015 taken from the muzzeyen senar documentary cumhuriyet divas. While he was out, some muslims entered the house and asked umm kulthum where the fugitive was. Mitra is an ambitious artist in her forties who embarks on her dream project of making a film about the legendary egyptian singer and diva oum. Featuring concert footage, film clips and interviews with the famed singers friends and colleagues, goldmans documentary places the life and career of umm kulthum in the context of the. Hz umm kulthum bint muhammad ra was the third daughter of prophet muhammad pbuh and hz khadijah bint khuwaylid ra. The search for umm kulthum film will participate in a number of prominent international film festivals. The lady of cairo umm kulthums legendary concerts were broadcast live from cairo, on the first thursday of each month from the 1930s to. These are 3 quicktime movies related to um kalthoum courtesy of egyptian satellite tv. The movie is participating in the 74th edition of the venice international film festival, currently being held from august 30 to september 9. Jun 15, 2011 u mm kulthum, the greatest female singer in arab music history, fully emerged as a superstar in the mid40s, thanks to collaborations with the likes of composer riad alsunbati, who set the. U mm kulthum, the greatest female singer in arab music history, fully emerged as a superstar in the mid40s, thanks to collaborations with the likes of composer riad alsunbati, who set the. Umm kulthum was born in the egyptian village of tamayazzahayra on may 4th, 1904 to a poor family. Narrated by omar sharif, umm kulthum, a voice like egypt takes viewers into her home village and to the streets and cafes of cairo where she lived and worked.
The search for umm kulthum film to participate in various. Qnt, stars for art records on behalf of stars for arts. If umm kulthum had no children, why is she referred to as umm a common epithet in the arabic language for a mother, named after her eldest son. This dvd contains an extra feature short film, which documents arab film history, and it contains several minutes of an uum kulthum public performance. More than a musician, she became the voice and face of egypt. Umm kulthum nasciu a tamayazzahayra, ad daqahliyah nto egittu. Nassers speeches were frequently broadcast right after umm kulthums. Om kalthoums repertoire is said to consist of about 280 songs on various themes. The film will be shot in arabic, a language i dont speak. Umars marriage to umm kulthum in shiite narrations1. Umm kulthum, arabic song, and egyptian society in the 20th century, a book by virginia danielson, university of chicago press umm kulthum, a voice like egypt, a film produced and directed by michal goldman, 1996. Jul 16, 2009 enta omri you are my life at the olympia theatre in paris, november 1967.
With only one film by a female director and none from the arab world. The numerous songs she recorded in support of this new republic strengthened this association and she spoke out often in support of arab nationalism. Umm kulthum sent for her husband and learned that the visitor was a cousin from the enemy army who was seeking protection. Umm kulthum performs a song for king farouk on the occasion of his birthday, february 11, 1937. The search for umm kulthum will also participate in the 42nd edition of. As we was mentioned while raising a question regarding umm kulthums marriage to umar ibn khattab, the story is famous and well known among sunni muslims and the narrations regarding this marriage have also been reported in the books authored by shia scholars. Although she recorded the tune during a 12hour session on march, the scheduled concert was canceled. Nov 02, 2016 om kulthumm had a contralto vocal range 14,000 vibrationssecond, unparalleled vocal strength no commercial mic for singing can withstand its strength forcing her to stand at 12 meter radius away. By including so much live footage of her in concert, the film is brimming with the tarab umm kulthum so commandingly inspired. Although some of her songs were specific to certain events, most are still as popular as they were the day she first performed them. I love introducing friends and students to this amazing film. She was one of the most famous arab singers and public personalities of the 20th century.
Biography umm kulthum, an internationally famous egyptian singer and film actress of the 1930s to the 1970s. Legendary egyptian singer umm kulthum had the musicality of ella fitzgerald, the public presence. Umm kulthum was entertained by heads of state, she toured cultural monuments, and, in interviews, repeated her views concerning the importance of support for indigenous arab culture. It aims to assist in the completion of arab and african films that are still. To this day, her cassettes outsell every other arabic female vocalist.
119 1588 750 175 1540 530 1542 1455 1235 1530 220 1216 339 890 1116 389 846 1613 1230 1663 334 1167 865 542 359 307 655 612 1231 929 82 1307 1039 933 161 781 343