Leila Mourad

Leila Mourad or Layla Morad (Egyptian Arabic: ليلى مراد; February 17, 1918 – November 21, 1995) was an Egyptian singer and actress, and one of the most prominent superstars in Egypt and the entire Arab world in her era. Born Lilian Zaki Ibrahim Mourad to an Egyptian Jewish family in the El Daher District in Cairo, she later changed her name to Leila Mourad as a stage-name.[2] Leila married three times and divorced three times. She died in 1995.

Leila Mourad
ليلى مراد
Layla Mourad in 1947.
Layla Mourad in 1947.
Background information
Birth nameLilian Zaki Morad Mordechai [1]
Born(1918-02-17)February 17, 1918
Cairo, Egypt
DiedNovember 21, 1995(1995-11-21) (aged 77)
Cairo, Egypt
GenresEgyptian music
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1934–1963

Life

Leila Mourad was born on February 17, 1918, to Zaki Mourad and Gamilah Ibrahim Roushou, the daughter of Ibrahim Roushou, a local concert contractor in the early 20th century who regularly booked Zaki Mourad to sing at concerts and wedding parties.[3][4][5][6] Her father was a respected singer, musician, and religious Jewish cantor (Hazzan). One of her brothers, Mounir Mourad, was an actor and composer.

She made her first stage appearance, aged nine, at the Saalat Badi'a, one of Cairo's most successful Music Halls. The theatre had been founded in 1926 by the actress and dancer Badia Masabni, who became Mourad's patron.[7] Her first film appearance, aged fifteen, was in the 1932 " Al-Dahaaya " (The Victims) which had originally been made as a silent film. Her song, The Day of Departure, was added as part of the transformation of the production into a "talkie".[8]

She was trained by her father and Dawood Hosni, who was also Jewish. Hosni had composed the first operetta in the Arabic language, and he composed two songs for Leila: Hairana Leh Bein El-Eloub (Why can't you choose from among lovers), and Howa el dala'a ya'ani khessam (Does daliance mean avoiding me?). Further success came when the prominent Egyptian composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab heard her singing and gave her a role in his film Yahia el Hob (Viva Love!) in 1938. In the six years following the success of Yahia el Hob she made five best selling films with director Togo Mizrahi, becoming Egypt's top actress. In 1945 she made Layla Bint al-Fuqara ("Layla, daughter of the poor") directed by Anwar Wagdi whom she married shortly after. She went on to make a further 20 films of which the most outstanding is Ghazel el-Banat ("The Flirtation of Girls"), also directed and co-starring Wagdi. It also featured Nagib al-Rihani and Abdel Wahab in their last appearances on film.[9]

Layla holding a photo of Egypt's President Mohamed Naguib, circa 1953.
A letter written by the Egyptian Army general command denying the allegations held against Layla, October 27, 1952.

In 1953, she was selected, over Umm Kulthum, as the official singer of the Egyptian revolution. Shortly thereafter, a rumor that Mourad had visited Israel, where she had family, and donated money to its military, raised suspicions of spying and caused some Arab radio stations to boycott her. She denied these allegations .[10] No proof was found that she had contributed money to Israel's military; the Egyptian government investigated and concluded that the charges against the singer were without foundation.

Her decision to retire, aged 38, came with the failure of her last film, Al Habib al Majhoul (The Unknown Lover), the banning of her song, With Unity, Order, and Work, praising the Free Officers 1952 revolution and the outbreak of the 1956 war.[11] Despite the immense popularity of her films her singing career was over-shadowed by Um Kulthum who dominated Egypt's musical landscape and, in 1949, had become president of the Musicians' Union. In the early 1950s other singers also popular with younger audiences, such as Abdel al Halim Hafez, did not get the same exposure on the radio as Um Kulthum.[12]

Leila Mourad's relationship with her family was not an easy one, possibly due to money . She didn't change her name and religion on her identity card . Between 1967 and 1970, hundreds of Egyptian Jewish males were deported to the prisons of Abu Zaabal and Tora, including one of Leila's brothers, Isak Zaki. Families of the detainees were allowed to visit beginning in 1968, and some noted that Leila was never seen visiting her brother.

Leila Mourad made a few brief reappearances during Ramadan in 1970, when she was scheduled to read Salah Jaheen's "Fawazeer Ramadan" (Ramadan' puzzles), a daily traditional radio program held during the Holy month of Ramadan.

Leila Mourad died in a Cairo hospital in 1995.

Marriages

Leila Mourad married Anwar Wagdi (married 1945 – divorced 1953), over the objection of her father. She married him and divorced. Leila gave the reason for her divorce as the fact that she was not fully aware of the seriousness of Wagdi's illness, one that made him constantly irritable and difficult to live with. Later she married secretly Wagih Abaza (married 1955 – divorced 1956) and gave birth to Ashraf Wagih Abaza and divorced . Then she married a film director Fatin Abdel Wahab 1957 and she gave birth to their son Zaki Fatin Abdel Wahab, and finally divorced in 1969.

Works

Layla with Youssef Wahbi.

Almost all of Laila Mourad's most popular songs are from her musical films.

  • "Yama Arak El-Nasim" (How Calm the Breeze is) from Yahya El-Hob (1938)
  • "Ghany Ya Tair" (Sing, Bird) from Laila Bint Madares (1941)
  • "Meen Yishtary El-Ward Minni" (Who Will But Flowers From Me?) from Laila (1942)
  • "El-Habib" (The Lover) from Laila (1942)
  • "Hagabt Noorak Anny" (You've Hidden Your Light From Me) from Laila (1942)
  • "Elli fi Albo Haga Yis'alny" (Whoever Has Something In Their Heart, Tell Me) from Laila, Daughter of the Poor (1945)
  • "Leila Gameelah" (What a Beautiful Night!) from Laila, Daughter of the Poor (1945)
  • "Ehna El-Etnein" (The Two Of Us) from Laila, Daughter of the Poor (1945)
  • "Monaya fi Korbak" (I Wish to be By Your Side) from Al-Madi Al-Majhoul (1946)
  • "Enta Sa'ida" (Good Day) from Alby Dalili (1947)
  • "Edhak Karkar" (Laugh and Chuckle) from Alby Dalili (1947)
  • "Alby Dalili" (My Heart is My Guide) from Alby Dalili (1947)
  • "Sa'alt Aleh" (I Asked About Him) from Anbar (1948)
  • "Dous Al-Donya" (Step on the World) from Anbar (1948)
  • "Etmakhtary Ya Kheil" (Trot, My Horse) from Ghazal El-Banat (1949)
  • "El Hob Gameel" (Love Is Beautiful) from Ghazal El-Banat (1949)
  • "Abgad Hawaz" (The ABC's) from Ghazal el-Banat (1949)
  • "Einy Betref" (My Eye Wanders) a duet with the Egyptian actor "Naguib AlRaihani", from Ghazal El-Banat (1949)
  • "El Donya Ghenwa" (The World is a Song) from Ghazal el-Banat (1949)
  • "Ya Msafer W Nasy Hawak" (Traveller, You Have Forgotten Your Heart) from Shati' Al-Gharam (1950)
  • "El-Maya Wel Hawa" (The Water and the Wind) from Shati' Al-Gharam (1950)
  • "Ya Aaz Min Einy" (Dearer Than My Eyes) from Shati' Al-Gharam (1950)
  • "Hakak Alaya" (It's My Fault) from Habib Al-Rouh (1951)
  • "Es'al Alaya" (Ask About Me) from Al-Hayat Al-Hob (1954)
  • "Otlob Enaya" (Ask for my Eyes) from Al-Hayat Al-Hob (1954)
  • "Leh Khaletni Ahebbak" (Why Did You Let Me Love You) from Al-Habib Al-Majhoul (1955)
  • "Bil Nizam Wal-Amal Wal-Etihad" (With Order, Work, and Unity) (1953) An anthem for the Egyptian Revolution that was commissioned by the new government led by President Mohamed Naguib. This song was banned when Gemal Abdelnasser ousted Naguib.
  • "Sanatein W Ana Ahayel Feek" (For Two Years I've Waited For You)

Laila Mourad has starred in 27 film between 1938 and 1955. This list does not include her appearance in El-Dahaya (The Victims) (1935) in which she only recorded songs for the film, but did not actually appear in it.

NameEnglish TranslationCo-StarRelease DateDirector
Yahya El-HobViva Love!Mohammed Abdel WahabJanuary 24, 1938Mohammed Karim
Fi Laila MomteraOn a Rainy NightYoussef WahbiOctober 12, 1939Togo Mizrahi
Laila Bint ElreefLaila the Village GirlYoussef WahbiJanuary 2, 1941Togo Mizrahi
Laila Bint MadaresLaila the SchoolgirlYoussef WahbiOctober 16, 1941Togo Mizrahi
LailaLaila (Dame of the Camelias)Hussein SidkyApril 2, 1942Togo Mizrahi
Laila fil ZalamLaila in the DarkHussein SidkyFebruary 24, 1944Togo Mizrahi
Shohada'a Al-GharamMartyrs of LoveIbrahim HammoudaOctober 19, 1944Kamal Selim
Laila Bint El-Foqara'aLaila, Daughter of the PoorAnwar WagdiNovember 5, 1945Anwar Wagdi
Laila Bint El-AghniyaLaila, Daughter of the RichAnwar WagdiOctober 28, 1946Anwar Wagdi
Almadi AlmajhoulUnknown PastAhmad SalemApril 8, 1946Ahmad Salem
Darbat Al-QadrStroke of LuckYoussef WahbiJanuary 13, 1947Youssef Wahbi
Khatem SuleimanSuleiman's RingZaki RostomFebruary 17, 1947Hassan Ramzy
Shadiat Al-WadySongstress of the ValleyYoussef WahbiApril 7, 1947Youssef Wahbi
Alby DaliliMy Heart is My GuideAnwar WagdiOctober 6, 1947Anwar Wagdi
Alhawa Wal ShababLove and YouthAnwar WagdiJanuary 5, 1948Niazi Mostafa
AnbarAmberAnwar WagdiNovember 1, 1948Anwar Wagdi
Al-MajnunaThe MadwomanMohamed FawziJanuary 31, 1949Helmy Rafla
Ghazal al-BanatThe Flirtation of GirlsNaguib el-RihaniSeptember 22, 1949Anwar Wagdi
Shati' Al-GharamThe Shore of LoveHussein SidkyFebruary 20, 1950Henry Barakat
Adam wa Hawa'aAdam and EveHussein SidkyMay 7, 1951Hussein Sidky
Habib Al-RouhSoulmateAnwar WagdiOctober 8, 1951Anwar Wagdi
Ward Al-GharamFlowers of LoveMohamed FawziDecember 10, 1951Henry Barakat
Min Al-Qalb Lal-QalbHeart to HeartKamal el-ShennawiFebruary 26, 1952Henry Barakat
Sayidat Al-QitarLady of the TrainYehia ChahineAugust 28, 1952Youssef Chahine
Bint El-AkaberDaughter of the GreatAnwar WagdiFebruary 9, 1953Anwar Wagdi
Al-Hayat Al-HobLife is LoveYehia ChahineApril 5, 1954Seifeddine Shawkat
Al-Habib Al-MajhoulThe Unknown LoverHussein SidkyMay 23, 1955Hassan Al-Saify

Legacy

The Ramadan television series " Ana Albi Dalili " (named after one of her songs), about the life of Leila Mourad, debuted in 2009. It is an Egyptian production headed by Syrian director Muhamad Zuhair Rajab. Jordanian actress Safa Sultan plays Leila Mourad. Egypt's Ahmed Falawkas portrays Anwar Wagdi. Ezzat Abou Aouf, an Egyptian actor, portrays Zaki Mourad and Egyptian actress Hala Fakher portrays Miriam, the aunt of Leila Mourad.[13]

References

  1. "ET commemorates birth anniversary of legendary Leila Mourad". February 18, 2019.
  2. Lagrange, Frederic (2001). Musiques D'egypte (in French). France - Egypt. pp. 132–133.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. "منير مراد.. التهميش والطائفة والترفيه". جريدة الرياض (in Arabic). Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  4. Zaki, Tawfiq Abdel Hamid (1993). "Family Musical Groups. (AR: أسر موسيقية)". The contemporary pioneers of the arabic music (AR: المعاصرون من رواد الموسيقى العربية). Egypt - The Middle East.: The General Egyptian Book Organization. pp. 83–86.
  5. Laila Murad the daughter of the famous Egyptian Jewish composer Zaki Mourad
  6. "ET commemorates birth anniversary of legendary Leila Mourad". Mourad was born to Ibrahim Zaki Mourad Mordechai and Gamilah Salmon. Her father, an Egyptian Jew, was a respected singer, musician, and religious Jewish cantor, Hazzan. Her mother was a Jewish Egyptian of Polish Jewish origins.
  7. Danielson, Virginia (1977) The Voice of Egypt. Umm Kulthum, Arabic song, and Egyptian society in the twentieth century. AUC Press, Cairo. ISBN 977 424 386 2. pp.48,67
  8. Darwish, Mustafa (1998) Dream Makers on the Nile. A Portrait of Egyptian Cinema. AUC Press, Cairo. ISBN 977 424 429X. p.24
  9. Darwish. pp.24,25
  10. Beinin, Joel (1998). The Dispersion of Egyptian Jewry. University of California Press. 1st edition. p. 84.
  11. Darwish. p.24
  12. Danielson. p.120
  13. Bizawe, Eyal Sagui. "The return of Cinderella." Haaretz. October 1, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
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