Solaf Fawakhirji will be portraying the renowned Syrian Druze singer Asmahan, in an upcoming Syrian mini-series, based on the singer’s life. A number of actresses and popular singers were nominated for the part. Filming will start at the end of this year in time for the 2008 Ramadan sweeps. Firas Ibrahim will produce the series.

For those of you not familiar with Asmahan’s career, she was born in 1918 as Amal El Attrache, sister to Farid El Attrache. She is from the Druze village of Suwayda in Syria. Asmahan started her career in Syria and Lebanon and later moved to Egypt to sing under the tutelage of Riyadh el-Sonbati and Muhammad Al-Qassabji. Asmahan became the sensation of the arab world in the early 1940’s and acted in a number of memorable Egyptian films.

Asmahan died in a conterversial manner in 1944. Asmahan was riding in a taxi-cab, when the driver stepped out of the rolled up and locked the car and simply allowed the car to roll into the Nile river. Asmahan drowned in the taxicab. Rumors have it that Asmahan was a British spy and was killed because of her espionage, whereas in her hometown rumor has it that she was killed by Om Kalthoum because of the latter’s jealousy of Asmahan’s powerful voice.

By guest writer George

Related Links:
- Sulaf Fawakherji Pictures