Ghosts of Sayala (, translit. Afaryt el-Sayala) is a 2004 Egyptian TV series directed by Ismail Abd al-Hafez and written by drama writer Osama Anwar Okasha, the last one he wrote before he died. The show stars 23-year old Ahmed El-Fishawy, Abla Kamel, Hassan Hosny, Zeina, Mahmoud El-Hadini, Safia El Emari and others. It was aired for 37 episodes in one season produced and aired by EMPC.
Production
The opening song was performed by Hani Al-Abd.
In a 2018 interview, Ahmed El-Fishawy stated that his role in the show still his favorite role of his acting career.
The show had some problems during production and also with advertisers, which led to exclude it from the Ramadan season.
Synopsis
The story follows numerous simple people from the same poor and rural region of Sayala which is located in Bahary, Alexandria. Contrastingly, there is a completely different classy element; an old billionaire and his family based in Cairo. The old man learns that he has a son from a third wife from Sayala, which made him feel utterly ashamed of himself. As result, he decides to write his will giving his newly known son the big share of his money and assets, an action that made his family so distressed, as they don't even know they have another sibling from another wife, moreover, he comes from a much lower social class. And then, the events get more complicated when it's time to execute the will.
After getting the money, Maghaouri's life changes slowly into a luxurious style, also his family. On the other hand, Qesmat Hanem and her family couldn't bear the unexpected distribution of money and assets, and the suspicious appearance of Maghaouri, so they start battles legally and through other ways.
The first scene of the series is somehow an overall conception of the events and also the moral philosophy of the story, the scene set in a local cafe in Sayala, and then starts the monologue-wise conversation between an old man (A'am Asaliya) and a falsely claimed reporter, the old man spoke frankly and modestly about his long stay in the urban area, his views on the people and how poverty sometimes might create cooperative little communities and more strong beliefs and ethics, though, the evil always come from many ways. There are many scenes in almost every episode in the show which we can find portraits of these thoughts or even through a blunt dramatic dialogue.
Characters
Maghaouri's family
Maghaouri: Early 20s boy from a rural neighborhood in Bahary, Alexandria, his life revolves around his people and close friends, Maghaouri was the gang leader of a small group who call themselves the Ghosts of Sayala. Although, the acts of the gang was shown as harmful only for people who do evil acts. Maghaouri didn't finish his high school education and occasionally works in some illegal deals like smuggling. He lives within quite poor living standards, but he believes he has the gift of people who love him, which are feelings he misses because he didn't meet either of his parents. Rezqa: Many aspects of Rizqa's unambiguous personality reveal in the first few episodes, as an independent widow who brought up her nephew Maghaouri, depending on working at her small stall, also most of the times she is totally conservative and frank, in many scenes we see that her bluntness gets people insulted or confused, however, there are other scenes show the tenderness of her character, as she still devoted to her dead husband even after several years, and also the love for Maghaouri. Azima: Sister of Rezqa, she is attached most to her family and her life totally revolves around them, she doesn't play critical role when the events go on and she agrees with Rezqa most of the time. Qadara or Edara: Daughter of Azima. She was engaged to Hamada Salim but their relationship went into some conflicts, and she saw that his family still oversee his life decisions. Edara is a cheerful young woman, and when the dramatic change happened, she was the most adaptive person to get along with the new high-class life. El Sala: El-salah 'ala el-nabi Fath el-bab, Mahouri's nephew and close friend to him as they brought up together. El Sala is an early 30s normal guy who still can't find a regular job or gets married. He is kind of naive and fond of eating. When Maghaouri becomes a billionaire, they live together in the new villa.