Corona takes a smile from the faces of Moroccans in Ramadan

Abdelghani Ballout - Marrakesh

Corona this year directly affected dramatic and comedic production, especially in Ramadan works in Morocco, as a number of works stopped during filming, and others did not start at all, while third works were filmed in haste, which will be - according to what was announced - production. Dramatically weak in terms of quantity compared to previous years.

Usually, Moroccan television channels (the first and second channels) enter a competition to attract the audience to their programs during peak times, by presenting pure Moroccan works that are drama and comic series, and some of the series "Sitcom", in an attempt to draw a smile On the faces of the viewers.

Sudden pause
Director Karim Slahi says to Al Jazeera Net that the Corona pandemic has stopped the completion of some artwork, confirming that this will affect the quality of some of the works presented, especially those that were completed quickly and in abnormal conditions.

Nevertheless, Salahi notes that the presence of local artists - such as comedians Mohamed El-Khayari and Aziz Hattab, the hero of Sitcom "The Cooperative" - ​​will adjust the balance in favor of national production, despite the presence of huge Arab series shown on Arab satellite channels.

Salahi confirms that he himself did not complete a documentary work because of Corona, as Al Jazeera Net learned that the director Hassan Dahhani had stopped filming his television movie "Silence of the Rooster" for the same reason, as is the case of many other dramas.

In turn, comedian Abdullah Farkous - Al Jazeera Net - says that this year he has contented himself with a TV movie, and it remains a dramatic film that may be linked to Ramadan or others.

Continuous production
On the other hand, producers were able to complete their work, which will probably save the "Ramadan season." Among the most prominent things the Moroccan public will see this year: the series "Yaqout and Anbar", which was filmed for four months and ended before the arrival of "Corona" in Morocco, which is a Moroccan tragic drama that shows the injustice that women are exposed to from the society’s view of them, and also through their perception of themselves.

The series is directed by Mohamed Nusrat and produced by Khaled Al-Nakri. Through dramatic work, a group of faces that are familiar to the Moroccan viewer, including: Noura Al-Skalli and Aziz Hattab, are shown.

Al-Naqri assures Al-Jazeera Net that, despite stopping the filming of some works to protect artists, technicians and all members of photography, the submitted works are diversified to meet the wishes of the public.

Absence of comedy,
and it became clear that comedy in the Ramadan program network in Morocco has shrunk this year due to the Corona pandemic, but some familiar faces are present, as the well-known comedian returns through the series "Tondos" which the second channel relies on to compensate for the shortfall, while the artist Donia is absent. Butazolt for the first time in years.

Al-Naqri notes in the same statement to Al-Jazeera Net that the comedy will not be presented in its usual size this year, especially the light works (capsules) that were intended to make you laugh.

An acceptable excuse,
and the actor and director Farkous did not hide his fear of showing comic works during Ramadan without the level required by the audience, especially since time is not a time of humor in the current circumstances that affected all Moroccan families.

Farkous notes that some artists have an excuse to stop their productions, pointing out that a return to normal production in the fields of art will be beneficial when life returns to normal.

Nevertheless, Farkous says, he will follow the Ramadan business with interest, with the intention of benefiting from all the technical and technical developments.

Among the few comedies that will be shown this year is the series "Souhalifa" in its second part, in which Moroccan actor Youssef El Maghari plays the title role alongside the child Esraa, a series that has been subjected to sharp criticism because of the dialogue that comes from the little girl Esraa.

Suhalifa tells a story in a light comic template, for an eight-year-old "disaster" girl, able to bring all kinds of problems in cute situations to her uncle "civil".

Special circumstances
On the other hand, the director of dramatic programs in the second channel, director Rashid Zaki, defends the programs presented in this channel during Ramadan, noting that they were not affected by the quarantine situation because they were photographed before the invasion of the epidemic, but there is one work that was completed in special circumstances and in the context of spacing Social.

Regarding the difference in the audience’s receiving context for these works with the general context dominated by Corona News, I highlight that this will vary from one individual to another, but what is certain is that the Moroccan public will accept the national production for viewing first and to express its opinion secondly, highlighting that this year's business plot has a unique diligence with faces Familiar and new.

The public is waiting for what will be presented to him during this year, and director Salahi highlights that the Moroccan viewer is a taster and can sort the wheat from the fat, and that he will hold accountable all those who did not respect his feelings or meet his artistic needs.