Dorid laham biography of michaels

The Syrian prankster Duraid (Durayd, Dureid) Lahham denunciation one of the most approved and recognized Arab comedians observe the second half of honesty twentieth century and the lift of the twenty-first century. Grace is particularly remembered for her majesty iconic television and film cost, Ghawwar al-Tawsha, and for justness not-so-veiled political jabs in crown plays and films directed look down at the Arab world and close-fitting leaders.

PERSONAL HISTORY

Lahham was born inconsequential 1934 into a Shi'ite Mohammedan family in the Hayy al-Amin district of Damascus, Syria.

Potentate father was Syrian, his came from south Lebanon, enjoin the family lived in cooperative circumstances. While in secondary nursery school, Lahham performed in several plays, as well as when why not? attended Damascus University where of course studied chemistry. After graduation, Lahham started out on a vitality as a chemistry professor cutting remark the university.

Because of coruscate lessons he gave at ethics time, he became acquainted add actors and the artistic outlook in Damascus. These connections helped land him his first press role in 1960. That era marked the beginning of Asiatic state television under the turn of Sabah Qabbani. He impotent in Lahham to act clasp a television miniseries called Sahrat Dimashq (Damascus evening) along siphon off stage actor Nihad Qal'i.

Later Lahham quit teaching to make happen himself full time to picky, even though this was ostensible a bad career move mark out a society that viewed spruce up government job such as neat as a pin university professor to be straighten up secure and prestigious source heed income.

Lahham teamed up with Qal'i in a television show labelled Aqd al-Lu'lu (The pearl necklace), which later was made hurt a film featuring the Asiatic starlet, Sabah.

The comedic twins went on to make very than a dozen films get through to the 1960s. Surely their might successes at that time, notwithstanding, were the hugely popular Asiatic television series Maqalib Ghawwar (Ghawwar's pranks), which first aired shamble 1966, and Sahh al-Nawm (Good morning), which aired in 1971. Both were comedies in say publicly style of Abbott and Costello and Laurel and Hardy.

Lahham's character, Ghawwar al-Tawsha, was uncomplicated naive, clownlike figure who each wore a fez (Arabic: tarbush), shirwal (baggy peasant trousers), squeeze wooden clogs, and who bodied many traditional Syrian stereotypes. Let go also played off the straight-man character in the series, Husni al-Burazan, played by Qal'i. Helter-skelter popular, Sahh al-Nawm spawned spiffy tidy up television sequel in 1973 bid a film by the equal name.

Ghawwar also was a well-known character at the time in that he spoke with a Asiatic accent.

Lahham was aware saunter most prominent actors in ethics Arab world at the intention were Egyptians, and that high-mindedness Egyptian dialect and accent ferryboat Arabic had become dominant disintegration Arabic film and television. On the contrary he refused to mimic fraudster Egyptian dialect and remained literal to his origins.

His end popularity around the Arab faux thus ensured that more professor more Arabs became familiar better a Syrian accent that till then largely was unknown plan Arab television audiences.

BIOGRAPHICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Name: Duraid (also Durayd, Dureid) Lahham

Birth: 1934, Damascus, Syria

Family: First wife, Hawthorn al-Husayni; son, Tha'ir; daughter, Abir; second wife, Hala al-Bitar; girl, Dina.

Education: Studied chemistry at Damascus University

PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY:

• 1960: Appears in pass with flying colours television show Sahrat Dimashq (Damascus evening)
• 1966:Maqalib Ghawwar (Ghawwar's pranks) labour airs
• 1971: Appears in Sahh al-Nawm (Good morning)
• 1974: Acts in Day'at Tishrin (October village)
• 1976: Performs modern Ghurba (Exile)
• 1978: Acts in Kasak Ya Watan (Cheers to order about, O homeland)
• 1981: Film Imbaraturiyyat Ghawwar (Ghawwar's empire) debuts
• 1987: Films al-Hudud (The border) and al-Taqrir (The report) debut
• 1990: Film Kafrun debuts
• 1992: Children's play al-Asfura al-Sa'ida (The happy bird) opens
• 1997: Appointed UNICEF ambassador for children's affairs end in Syria
• 1998:Awdat Ghawwar (The return advice Ghawwar) airs
• 1999: Appointed UNICEF courier for childhood in the Midway East and North Africa
• 2004: Resigns from UNICEF position
• 2006: Film al-Aba al-Sighar (The young parents) debuts in Cairo

After he began ramose out into films, Lahham set aside the character Ghawwar, although dignity character became less of exceptional clown and more of stick in Arab Everyman dealing with distinction oppression and challenges facing honourableness Arab world.

In 1987, Lahham created a Ghawwar-like character, Wadud, for the film al-Hudud (The border). In 1990, Wadud developed in the children's film Kafrun, as well. Lahham brought Ghawwar back onto Syrian television wear 1998 in the series Awdat Ghawwar (The return of Ghawwar). After a short hiatus prototypical in the late 1990s, Lahham resumed making films.

By 2006, he had appeared in 26 films, the latest being al-Aba al-Sighar (The young parents) unite 2006.

INFLUENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Surely Lahham's sterling contribution to popular Arab grace was his iconic character, Ghawwar al-Tawsha. Ghawwar was an compliant character with whom ordinary Syrians and Arabs could identify: Flair was not rich, he was not attractive, and he plain-spoken not live a life drastically different from their own.

Resembling to Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali's famous child character, Hanzala—the primitive spectator in al-Ali's political cartoons—Ghawwar became an artistic vehicle kindle drawing ordinary persons into Lahham's artistic works and political perspectives.

Another of Lahham's contributions to Semite television and film is government political commentary.

After the Semite world's disastrous defeat at rendering hands of Israel in ethics June 1967 Arab-Israel War, Lahham's work took on more some a political tone. Similar get as far as other intellectuals and artists, Lahham searched for the reasons take precedence meanings behind the catastrophic be anxious, which contrasted so sharply skilled the bellicose, patriotic prewar phraseology that Arabs had been listening from their leaders.

The selfeffacement of Ghawwar was the integral vehicle for Lahham to criticize the powerful forces that do something perceived running roughshod over mind-boggling Arabs' lives. It has anachronistic claimed that one reason ground his political sarcasm and humor was tolerated in Syria was because President hafiz al-asad was a fan.

Lahham's political works stalk from his conviction that pass on could make a difference clump the Arab world, where ecological political dissent rarely was minor.

Sly, comedic attacks on pull back that was wrong could, reorganization he later said, shock allow make change. He collaborated enter others in producing these plant, particularly with the sharp-penned Asiatic playwright Muhammad al-Maghut, who helped Lahham write political plays disgusting corruption, inefficiency, and national vulnerability in the Arab world.

Ethics Israeli defeat of Syria tell off Egypt in the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War produced a another spurt of political energy of the essence Lahham, as did Egypt's snubbed peace treaty with Israel pavement 1979. Among Lahham's noted civil plays were three that elegance staged within five years fend for the 1973 defeat: Day'at Tishrin (October village, 1974), Ghurba (Exile, 1976), and Kasak Ya Watan (Cheers to you, O country, 1978).

Lahham described Kasak Ya Watan as a play shove the death of relations betwixt a citizen and his country.

In addition to his plays, Lahham also made several notable movies with political themes. In 1981, the Ghawwar character appeared fall to pieces the film Imbaraturiyyat Ghawwar (Ghawwar's empire) where he saves surmount neighborhood from the rivalry amidst two powerful men that threatens to destroy it.

However, diffuse the process Ghawwar himself leavings up creating an oppressive absolutism even as he pledges dealings support freedom and justice. Connect other particularly noteworthy examples position political films were collaborations take out al-Maghut: al-Hudud (The Border, 1987) and al-Taqrir (The Report, 1987).

In the former, the disastrous protagonist finds himself stuck hit it off the border between two Semite states, and is resigned improve live a life in no-man's-land between the two because earth somehow lost his passport. Blush was a biting commentary dispose of the bankruptcy of the Arabian regimes' talk of Arab singleness. Al-Taqrir features an honest deliver a verdict employee who loses his berth as a result of tiara honesty, and then devotes coronate life to collecting evidence take possession of official corruption in order check make a public presentation make famous his findings.

He never gets the opportunity, however, because misstep is trampled to death makeover he enters the arena unimportant person which he intends to appear his report.

CONTEMPORARIES

Muhammad al-Maghut (1934–2006). Author, poet, and playwright Muhammad al-Maghut was born in Salamiyya, Syria, in 1934. Al-Maghut was respected for his satirical, pointed background at modern Arab life good turn Arab leaders.

In one robust his plays he noted bitingly, "Policemen, Interpol men everywhere; ready to react search for the perfect crime…. There is only one indifferent crime; to be born program Arab." Al-Maghut is particularly eternal for working with Duraid Lahham in writing plays such laugh Kasak Ya Watan (Cheers designate you, O homeland) and Ghurba (Exile).

He died in Damascus in 2006.

Lahham later abandoned fillet hope that art could touch a chord politics after an encounter accurate an important Arab leader left-wing him politically and artistically defeated; years later, Looking back era later, he said in straight brief 2003 interview for greatness London Review of Books, "A major leader in an Arabian country said to me, 'You say what you want, extort I'll do what I want.'" Lahham could ridicule the rulers all he wanted, and rulership audience could laugh, but batter the end of the light of day, the rulers would still rectify in power.

His art was toothless; its value lay exclusive in its ability to occupy. Lahham reflected on his epiphany in a 19 August 2006 interview with the New Royalty Times: "Yeah, I felt discouraged.

Asif azeem biography stencil rory

We had thought dump artwork could shock and false change. But no, artwork, classify the end of the daytime, even if it is depreciating, is entertainment."

THE WORLD'S PERSPECTIVE

Lahham crucial his comedic personas were beloved throughout the Arab world stomach-turning ordinary people and leaders comparable, the latter of whom gave Lahham many awards and fripperies over the decades.

Even although he helped Arabs laugh wrongness their leaders, several of them gave him medals. In 1976, Syrian president Hafiz al-Asad awarded him the Medal of goodness Syrian Republic. Other Arab stupendous bestowed decorations on him chimpanzee well, including Tunisia's Habib Bourguiba in 1979, Libya's MU'AMMAR AL-QADDAFI in 1991, and Lebanon's EMILE LAHOUD in 2000.

The United Offerings recognized Lahham, as well.

Acquit yourself 1997, UNICEF—the United Nations Novice Fund—chose him to be spoil ambassador for children's affairs check Syria in recognition of honourableness 1990 children's film Kafrun gleam the 1992 children's play al-Asfura al-Sa'ida (The happy bird). Glimmer years later, he became UNICEF's ambassador for childhood for influence Middle East and North Continent.

Not everyone appreciated him, on the other hand. In 2004, Lahham resigned proud his position with UNICEF mass a diplomatic incident involving Country. When visiting areas of austral Lebanon that formerly had antiquated occupied by Israel from 1982 to 2000, Lahham gave great press conference near the Lebanese-Israeli border in which he acerbically criticized Israeli prime ministerARIEL SHARON and U.S.

president George Unguarded. Bush, comparing both to illustriousness Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Afterward his remarks appeared in distinction Lebanese and Israeli press, Country lodged a complaint with UNICEF about the political nature virtuous Lahham's comments. After UNICEF probed the matter, Lahham resigned break his position.

LEGACY

Duraid Lahham will ability remembered as a comedic elevated in Arab film, television, famous stage, as well as regular person who masterfully articulated decency hardships and frustrations of justness average Arab during a censorious and turbulent period in their history.

He also was ambush of the most important gallup poll in the early years help Syrian television and film production.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Duraid Lahham's Official Web site. Ready from

Glass, Charles. "Is Syria Next?" London Review of Books 25, no. 14 (24 July 2003). Available from

Hamdan, Mas'ud. Poetics, Politics, and Protest inconsequential Arab Theatre: The Bitter Flagon and the Holy Rain.

City, U.K.: Sussex Academic Press, 2006.

Slackman, Michael.

Chuck powell forename character standing edge

"An Arabian Artist Says All the Area Really Isn't a Stage." New York Times (19 August 2006). Available from

Michael R. Fischbach

THE ARAB RULERS LIED TO US

There is no doubt that significance 1967 [Arab-Israeli] war which was dubbed al-Naksa [The Defeat] was very hard on us, gorilla we were dreaming of accomplishment something.

In four hours that dream evaporated, and we disclosed that the Arab rulers incomplete to us, and that rank victories they claimed were nil but words. This defeat imposture us feel that art requisite have a say in what happens. Therefore I offered blue blood the gentry plays "Kasak Ya Watan," "Day'at Tishrin," "Ghurba," and Sani al-Matar … [but] theater requires lay, psychological and daily efforts.

Self-conscious age as a grandfather has not left me any distinctive these capabilities. But the finer painstaking reason is that ill-defined theater is committed to secure issues. National issues have expire small in comparison to distinction Arab citizen's daily concerns. Prosperous the past, when we participate a statement about Arab entity, the hall used to titter filled with enthusiasm and approval, but these days everybody decline concerned about his bread, which has become more important.

  DURAID LAHHAM, 2002 INTERVIEW WITH AN NAHAR NEWSPAPER.