Focus on national family's challenges

Sharjah Television has started work on a TV drama serial that will address the hopes, aspirations and problems of today's UAE national family.

The 25-episode serial, expected to be screened in Ramadan, presents a unique vision of the social situations that confront the UAE national family in modern times, said Hassan Jassim, financial director of the serial and head of the Sharjah Public Relations Department.

He told Gulf News that unlike previous local dramas, this one would focus on the present UAE generation and how it is coping with modern conditions.

The drama Last Days of Life will tap into the "generation gap" that has created misunderstandings within the family and triggered conflicts between traditional and modern values amidst today's growing materialism, Al Jassim said.

He pointed out that the serial would also present the character of the second wife, who would in this case be the daughter of a national father and an Egyptian mother.

He added that Sharjah's various tourist attractions would also be presented with the outdoor shooting in different locales in the emirate such as local parks, the Corniche area and Al Qasba Canal.

The filming will include use a portable camera to transfer the viewers from one place to another in a vibrant and smooth manner, he said.

Shooting has started this week in an effort to complete the work before Ramadan.

Salem Al Hitawi, author of the drama, said it was an attempt to delve into the modern day realities and challenges faced by a Gulf family.

It tackles issues such as spinsterhood, brothers' disputes over inheritance, and young people's mistakes through the family of "Al Nokhaza" headed by the father, who is the chief of fishermen in his town.

Hassan Abu Shaeera, the series director, said this series would be a starting point for a number of future productions that would pave the way for giving exposure to young national talents.

The serial's national cast includes popular faces like Ahmad Al Jassmi, Saif Al Ghanem, Fatima Al Hosani, Mari Al Halyan, Mohammed Al Ameri, Bilal Abdullah, Hanan Al Murri, Eman, Ghezlan, Alaa Shaker and others.

A number of youngsters, including Fatima Al Belushi, Mohammed Khalid, Shaykha Al Khayyal and Abdullah Masood, will make their debut in this serial.

Meanwhile, Sharjah Television has already received proposals from other satellite channels to purchase a number of its local dramas. Work is also underway on religious and light programmes to be shown during Ramadan and are expected to draw a big audience.