Shadia Explained

Honorific Prefix:OSA
Shadia
Birth Name:Fatma Ahmad Kamal Shaker
فاطمه أحمد كمال شاكر
Native Name:شاديه
Birth Date:8 February 1931
Birth Place:Cairo, Kingdom of Egypt
Death Place:Cairo, Egypt
Honours:Order of Sciences and Arts
Nationality:Egyptian
Years Active:1947–1984

Fatma Ahmad Kamal Shaker (فاطمه أحمد كمال شاكر; 8 February 193128 November 2017), better known by her stage name Shadia (شاديه, Shādya), was an Egyptian actress and singer. She was the third wife of Salah Zulfikar. She was famous for her roles in light comedies and drama in the 1950s and 1960s. Shadia was one of the iconic actresses and singers in Egypt and the Middle East region and a symbol of the golden age of Egyptian cinema and is known of her many patriotic songs.

Shadia's films and songs are popular in Egypt and all the Arab world. Critics consider her the most successful comprehensive Egyptian and Arabic artist of all time. Her first appearance in a film was in "Azhar wa Ashwak" (Flowers and Thorns), and her last film was "La Tas'alni Man Ana" (Don't Ask Me Who I Am).

She is also known for her patriotic song "Ya Habibti Ya Masr" (Oh Egypt, My Love) and her breakthrough leading role came in the 1959 Egyptian film "Al Maraa Al Maghoula" (The Unknown Woman) directed by Mahmoud Zulfikar. Six of her movies are listed in the top 100 Egyptian movies of the 20th century.

In April 2015, Shadia became the first actress to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the Egyptian Academy of Arts. She was given the nickname "Idol of the Masses" following her successful movie "Ma'budet el Gamahir" (Idol of the Masses). Other notable nicknames include "The Guitar of the Egyptian Singing" ( جيتارة الغنا) and "The Golden Guitar" (الجيتاره الدهبيه).

Early life

Shadia was born "Fatma Ahmad Kamal Shaker" in 1931, in Elhelmiyya Elgedida, in Cairo, Egypt, to an Egyptian father Ahmed Kamal Sahker from Sharqia and a mother of Turkish origin. In 1947, she fell in love with an Egyptian officer from Upper Egypt, and was heartbroken by his death during the 1948 war. Shadia had five sisters and brothers. She was the youngest of her sisters and the second youngest among all her siblings. Since her childhood, Shadia loved to sing and was encouraged to pursue music at primary school.

Career

Shaker gave herself the stage name "Shadia", after the name of a newborn of one of her family's friends. She began acting at the age of fifteen. In her heyday during the 1950s and 1960s, Shadia acted in numerous melodramas, romance, and comedy films. However, it was her singing talent that established Shadia as one of the most important Egyptian cinema stars of her era. Overall, as "Shadia", she performed in more than 100 films. Shadia is credited for acting alongside leading man Salah Zulfikar in his film debut, "Oyoun Sahrana" (Wakeful Eyes, 1956). Later, she paired with Zulfikar in six films, forming a famous duet, achieving major commercial and critical success, and becoming an Egyptian cinema classic. She also starred in more than 30 films with the actor Kamal El Shennawy, and sang opposite Farid El Atrash and Abdel Halim Hafez, such as in "Ma'boudat El Gamaheer" (The People's Idol, 1967). She appeared with Faten Hamama in Ezz El-Dine Zulfikar's "Mawe'd Ma'a El Hayah" (Appointment with Life, 1954), and in "El Mar'a El Maghula" (The Unknown Woman, 1959) by Mahmoud Zulfikar, she played the role of Fatma in a heavy melodrama.

Other films she starred in include "El les we El Kelab" (The Thief and the Dogs, 1962) with Shoukry Sarhan, where she played the role of a prostitute for the first time. She starred in comedy roles in films such as "El Zouga raqam 13" (Wife Number 13, 1962).Her famous trilogy alongside Salah Zulfikar; "Merati Modir 'Am " (My Wife, the Director General, 1966), "Karamat Zawgaty" (My Wife's Dignity, 1967) and "Afrit Merati" (My Wife's Goblin, 1968), were huge successes. Shadia was often cast in cunning and cheeky roles, however, she also played serious roles, such as in Salah Zulfikar Films production; "Shey Min El Khouf" (A Taste of Fear, 1969) and "Uyoon Sahranah" (Wakeful Eyes, 1956) by Ezz El-Dine Zulfikar and "El Tareeq" (The Road, 1964) based on a book by Naguib Mahfouz, and "Lamset Hanan" (A Toutch of Tenderness, 1971), her last film opposite Salah Zulfikar.

Shadia performed in the 1985 stage version of "Raya and Sakina", which was based on the 1953 film and true story of two Alexandrian serial killers, directed by Salah Abu Seif. She produced two films, and appeared in several films in Japan.As a singer, Shadia was called "the voice of Egypt". During hard and war times, she was famous for her Egyptian patriotic songs, especially "Ya Habibti Ya Masr" (Oh Egypt, My Love) and "Aqwa Mn El Zaman" (Stronger Than Time). She participated in many operettas about Egypt and the Arab world along with other Egyptian and Arabic singers, including: "Al Watan Al Akbar" (The Great Nation), "El Geel El Sa'ed" (The Rising Generation), and "Soot El Gamaheer" (The Voice of the Masses). Her mega hit song "Ya Habibti Ya Masr" (Oh Egypt, My Love), was considered one of the best patriotic songs ever. During a TV-interview, Shadia said regarding her famous patriotic song: "When I am singing to my homeland, it is even way more romantic and more honest than any romantic song. Here I am singing to my home, my land. There was a period when Egypt's name was erased (Nasser's era), Egypt’s name will never get erased from our hearts". After almost 25 years of retirement, Shadia's song became an anthem of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.[1] Upon returning from the premiere of "Raya and Sakina", Shadia stated that she gave serious thought that night to the idea of repentance. The following morning, she informed her producers that she wanted no part in the play from then on, but eventually promised to finish her work when they insisted that she do so. Thereafter, Shadia retired from the film and music industry, and went on a Umrah to Mecca, where she met the popular Egyptian Azhari scholar Sheikh El Shaarawy. Her meeting with El-Shaarawy influenced Shadia to reach her final decision to start wearing the hijab.[2]

Retirement

Shadia retired at the age of 50, citing the reason for her retirement as religious. She explained that she had been through many hard periods and rough circumstances throughout her life including struggling with cancer and depression that had veered her from her career. She decided to dedicate the rest of her life to caring for orphan children, stating that was her life's greatest joy. She also donated to charities, a decision she said she never once hesitated to make.[3]

Personal life

Shadia fell in love with an army officer who was killed during the battles of the 1948 Palestine War. Years later, In 1953, she was married to actor Emad Hamdy. This marriage lasted for 3 years and ended with divorce on good terms. In 1958, Shadia married Aziz Fathi, who was a radio engineer. He was several years younger than Shadia, and it did not take long until problems arose between Shadia and her husband. She filed a lawsuit that continued for a long time in courts and was sentenced to divorce after a marriage that lasted 3 years.[4] Shadia's third and final marriage came after a highly publicized love story with actor and producer Salah Zulfikar. She fell in love with Zulfikar in 1964 while filming Dearer than my Life (1965) and they married in the same year. Zulfikar, who was a box office mogul, shared the lead with Shadia in highly successful ventures mid-1960s.[5] [6] In one of her press interviews, she stated that he was the love of her life and he was the only man with whom she wished to have children. Unfortunately, she became pregnant three times and suffered a miscarriage each time. This turned out with depression though Zulfikar who already had children from his first marriage, tried to help her overcome her depression and produced A Taste of Fear (1969) with Shadia in the lead, the film turned out to be one of her cinematic masterpieces.[7] Her depression lead to the end of this marriage and they got divorced in 1970. Shadia never remarried.[8] [9]

Illness and death

Shadia was hospitalised on 4 November 2017 after suffering a massive stroke in Cairo. She was placed under intensive care.[10] Her nephew, Khaled Shaker, said during a televised phone conversation that she recovered from the stroke and could identify her relatives and the people around her. He added, however, that her illness was complicated by pneumonia, despite her recovery.[11] Shadia's condition stabilised on 9 November, and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi visited her that day at Al-Galaa Hospital. Shaker later said that the first words she spoke after recovering were "I want to go home", but had speech difficulties in general.[12]

On 28 November, Shadia died from respiratory failure caused by the pneumonia.[13]

Tribute

On February 8, 2021, Google celebrated her 90th birthday with a Google Doodle. The Doodle was displayed in Egypt, Israel and Sweden.[14]

Filmography

Source:[15]

Year Title Egyptian Arabic title
1947 Flowers And ThornsAzhar W Ashwak أزهار و أشواك
1947 Mind in HolidayEl Aql Fi Agazah العقل فى اجازه
1947Pigeon Of PeaceHamamet El Salam حمامة السلام
1948Justice Of HeavenAdl El Sama عدل السماء
1948data-sort-value="Soul And The Body, The" The Soul and the BodyEl Ruh W El Gasad الروح و الجسد
1949 Speech Of PeopleKalam El Nas كلام الناس
1949NadiaNadia ناديه
1949 Owner Of MillimsSahebat El Malalim صاحبة الملاليم
1949 Eve Of FeastLilet El Id ليلة العيد
1950data-sort-value="Hero, The" The Hero El Batal البطل
1950data-sort-value="Hour for Your Heart, An" An Hour for Your HeartSa'ah L Qalbak ساعه لقلبك
1950data-sort-value="Seventh Wife, The" The Seventh WifeEl Zogah El Sab'ah الزوجه السابعه
1950 Nothing Dice Ma'leshsh Ya Zahr معلش يا زهر
1950People Were Unjust To MeZalamuni El Nas ظلمونى الناس
1950 Days of My YouthAyam Shababi أيام شبابى
1951Busy with Not MeMashghul B Gheri مشغول بغيرى
1951Eve Of WeddingLilet El Hennah ليلة الحنه
1951Mister LionEl Sab' Afandi السبع أفندى
1951Earphone Of TelephoneSama'et El Telephone سماعة التليفون
1951In Love TogetherF El Hawa Sawa فى الهوا سوا
1951Storm in SpringAsefah F El Rabi عاصفه فى الربيع
1951data-sort-value="Caravan Moves, The" The Caravan MovesEl Qafela Tasir القافله تسير
1951My ChildrenAwladi أولادي
1951My Mother-in-Law Is An Atomic BombHamati Qonbelah Zariyyah حماتى قنبله ذريه
1951To Whom I Complain?Ashki l Min أشكى لمين
1951World Is Sweet El Donya Helwah الدنيا حلوه
1951Patience Is Well El Sabr Gamil الصبر جميل
1951Dew DropsQatr El Nada قطر الندى
1952HopesAmal آمال
1952data-sort-value="Killer Mother, The" The Killer MotherEl Omm El Qatelah الأم القاتله
1952Home of EmbezzlerBit El Nattash بيت النتاش
1952Anger Of ParentsGhadab El Waledain غضب الوالدين
1952Love Has No RemedyEl Hawa Malush Dawa الهوا ملوش دوا
1952Good ComerBoshret Khir بشرة خير
1952data-sort-value="Unlikely One, The" The Unlucky OneQalil El Bakht قليل البخت
1952Girl Of Shore Bent al Shati بنت الشاطئ
1952 Coming Goodness Qaddam El Khir قدم الخير
1952My Life Is You Hayati Enta حياتى انت
1952I Wronged My Soul Zalamt Rohi ظلمت روحى
1952Fault Of FatherGhaltet Abb غلطة أب
1952Down With ImperialismYasqot El Este'mar يسقط الاستعمار
1953Your Luck This WeekHazzak Haza El Esbu حظك هذا الاسبوع
1953Me and my LoverAna W Habibi انا و حبيبى
1953Testimony O PeopleEshhadu Ya Nas اشهدو يا ناس
1953Between Two HeartsBin Qalbin بين قلبين
1953Right WordKelemet Haqq كلمة حق
1953Your Tongue Is Your HorseLesanak Hosanak لسانك حصانك
1953data-sort-value="Bread-Seller, The" The Bread-SellerBaeat El Khobz بائعة الخبز
1953data-sort-value="Honest Thief, The" The Honest ThiefEl Less el Sharif اللص الشريف
1953 I'm on My OwnMalish Hadd ماليش حد
1954data-sort-value="Appointment with Life, An" Appointment with LifeMaw'ed Ma' el Hayah موعد مع الحياه
1954Forter Than LoveAqwa Men al Hobb أقوى من الحب
1954Adventures of Ismail YasinMoghamarat Ismail Yasin مغامرات اسماعيل ياسين
1954I Am The Love Ana El Hobb انا الحب
1954Daughters Of EveBanat Hawa بنات حواء
1954Daughter Of Neighbors Bent el Giran بنت الجيران
1954Horor Of Girl Sharaf El Bent شرف البنت
1954Injustice Is ForbiddenEl Zolm Haram الظلم حرام
1954 Don't ThinkEwa Tefakkar إوعا تفكر
1954Help Me With Employee Of MarriageElhaquni B El Mazun الحقونى بالمأذون
1954Women Can't LieEl Setat Ma Yerafush Yekdebu الستات مايعرفوش يكدبوا
1954data-sort-value="Night of My Life, A" A Night of my LifeLilah Men Omri ليله من عمرى
1955 Melody Of LoyalityLahn El Wafa لحن الوفاء
1955data-sort-value="Shore of Memories, The" The Shore of MemoriesShati El Zekrayat شاطئ الذكريات
1956The LeechShabab Emraah شباب امرأة
1956Farewell at DawnWada Fi El Fagr وداع فى الفجر
1956 Spring Of LoveRabi El Hobb ربيع الحب
1956 Wakeful EyesOyun Sahranah عيون سهرانه
1956 Dalila Dalilah دليله
1956Farewell Your LoveWadat Hobbak ودعت حبك
1957 LawahezLawahez لواحظ
1957You Are My Lover Enta Habibi انت حبيبى
1958 Fiery LoveHobb men Nar حب من نار
1958 Fault of My LoverGhaltet Habibi غلطة حبيبى
1958 data-sort-value="Escaper, The" The EscaperEl Harebah الهاربه
1958 Hearts Of VirginsQolub El 'Azara قلوب العذارى
1959 Pity My HeartErham Qalbi إرحم قلبى
1959 Nest Of LoveEsh al Gharam عش الغرام
1959 data-sort-value="Unknown Woman, The" The Unknown WomanEl Marah El Maghulah المرأه المجهوله
1960 Agony of LoveLawat El Hobb لوعة الحب
1960 Together ForeverMa'an Ela Al Abad معاً إلى الأبد
1961 Don't Remember MeLa Tazkorini لا تذكرينى
1961 data-sort-value="Schoolgirl, The" The SchoolgirlAl Telmizah التلميذه
1962 Wife Number 13El Zugah Raqam 13 الزوجة رقم 13
1962Forget The WorldEnsa El Donya إنسا الدنيا
1962data-sort-value="Woman In Whirlpool, A" A Woman in WhirlpoolEmraah Fi Dawwamah امرأه فى دوامه
1962 data-sort-value="Thief And The Dogs, The" Chased by the DogsEl Less W El Kelab اللص و الكلاب
1962 data-sort-value="Miracle, The" The MiracleAl Mo'gezah المعجزه
1963 On Banks Of NileAla Defaf El Nil على ضفاف النيل
1963 Cairo at NightAl Qahera Fi El Lil القاهره فى الليل
1963 El Madaqq Zoqaq al Madaq زقاق المدق
1963 Extreme JoyMontaha el Farah منتها الفرح
1964 Thousand And One NightsAlf Lilah E Lilah ألف ليله و ليله
1964 data-sort-value="Road, The" The RoadEl Tariq الطريق
1965 Dearer Than My LifeAghla Min Hayati أغلا من حياتى
1966 My Wife, the Director GeneralMerati Modir Am مراتى مدير عام
1967 Idol Of Public MassesMabudet El Gamahir معبودة الجماهير
1967 My Wife's DignityKaramet Zawgati كرامة زوجتى
1968My Wife's GoblinAfrit Merati عفريت مراتى
1969A Taste of FearShi Men El Khuf شيء من الخوف
1969Half An Hour MarriageNos Saah Gawaz نص ساعه جواز'
1969Miramar Miramar ميرامار
1970Tailor Of LadiesKhayyat El Sayyidat خياط للسيدات
1970We Don't Plant ThornNahno La Nazra El Shuk نحن لا نزرع الشوك
1971 Touch Of TendernessLamset Hanan لمسة حنان
1972 Lights Of CityAdwa El Madinah أضواء المدينه
1973Double Face Zat El Waghin ذات الوجهين
1974 Lover WomanEmraah Asheqah امرأه عاشقه
1974data-sort-value="Escaper, The" The FugitiveEl Hareb الهارب
1974Forbidden MemoriesRaghabat Mamnuah رغبات ممنوعه
1976Waves Without Shore Amwag Bela Shati امواج بلا شاطئ
1979Doubt O My Lover El Shakk Ya Habibi الشك يا حبيبى
1981Valley Of MemoriesWadi El Zekrayat وادى الذكريات
1984Don't Ask Me Who I am La Tasalni Mann Ana لا تسألنى من انا

External links

Notes and References

  1. Shereen Hafidh The big names who left us in 2017: Loved or unloved, they left their mark on the Arab world, The National, December 30, 2017
  2. News: Ghaleb, Ghada . 9 July 2015 . فنانات تائبات: شادية ترتدي الحجاب بعد وفاة والدها وشقيقيها.. والشعراوي ينصحها بالابتعاد عن أصدقاء الشيطان (ح 2) [Repented actresses: Shadia wears the hijab following the deaths of her father and brother.. Shaarawy advises her to avoid Satan's friends (p. 2)] ]. Al-Masry Al-Youm . 3 December 2017.
  3. Web site: 2017-08-24 . عربيات تنفرد بحوار مع الفنانة المعتزلة شادية مجلة عربيات الدولية . 2022-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170824084655/http://www.arabiyat.com/content/media/8.html . 24 August 2017 .
  4. Web site: 2017-11-30 . Ten Facts about the legendary Shadia . 2023-12-18 . EgyptToday.
  5. Web site: 2017-11-13 . 10 times Salah Zulfakar pioneered best scenes in Egyptian cinema . 2023-12-18 . EgyptToday.
  6. Web site: Aya Atef . فن في ذكرى وفاتها.. أسباب طلاق شادية وصلاح ذو الفقار بعد قصة حب .
  7. Book: Khalifah, Omar . Nasser in the Egyptian Imaginary . 2016-10-27 . Edinburgh University Press . 978-1-4744-1020-5 . en.
  8. Web site: 2021-06-03 . الفن أبقى من الجواز .. نجوم تعاونوا فى أعمال فنية رغم الطلاق .. شادية وعماد . 2023-12-18 . اليوم السابع . ar.
  9. Web site: Aboshady . Aya . 2019-02-14 . 12 Black and White Egyptian Couple Goals of All Time! . 2023-12-18 . Identity Magazine . en-US.
  10. Web site: Iconic singer Shadia's health condition stable: syndicate official. November 6, 2017. November 8, 2017. Egypt Independent.
  11. Web site: فيديو التفاصيل الكاملة لحالة شادية الصحية.. تواجه أزمة جديدة [Video with full details of Shadia's medical condition.. She's facing new problems] ]. Hia . 8 November 2017 . 29 November 2017.
  12. Web site: ماهي أول كلمات شادية بعد استعادة وعيها من جلطة دماغية؟ [What were Shadia's first words after recovering from a stroke?] ]. Al Arabiya . 10 November 2017 . 29 November 2017.
  13. Web site: التهاب رئوي تسبب بوفاة شادية [Pneumonia cause of Shadia's death] ]. 24.ae . 28 November 2017 . 29 November 2017.
  14. Web site: Shadia's 90th Birthday . Google . 8 February 2021 .
  15. Book: دليل الممثل العربي في سينما القرن العشرين [Guide to the Arab Actor of 20th Century Cinema] ]. Arab Nile Group . Qassem, Mahmoud . 1999 . 107 . 9775919029.