Show-stoppers!

Television series have long been an integral part of Ramadan traditions in Bahrain, the Gulf and the Arab world at large. Years ago, every evening at the iftar table, families would gather to break their fast and catch the latest episode of their favourite series. This has changed with the advent of satellite TV and video-on-demand, but the Ramadan customs continue. Zainab Almahdi has compiled a list of iconic shows that have shaped Bahraini popular culture, produced by Bahrain TV in the 80s and 90s, starring an ensemble of local talent. Every show boasts its own unique opening and ending sequence - a full-length music video - each a work of art in its own right.

Hasan and Noor Al Sana

Year: 1995

Episodes: 15

Genre: Fantasy, adventure, romance

Summary: The fantastical series, set in medieval times, is about a young man named Hasan, whose path crosses with a sorcerer, and is eventually caught up with the goings-on of the jinn world.

While in the other world, he falls in love with the swan maiden Noor Al Sana, the daughter of the Jinn king.

Although it’s an adaptation of the One Thousand and One Nights story Hasan of Basra, the characters still speak in the Bahraini dialect.

The adventure series is tinged with elements of horror and surrealism, aided by the creative and advanced use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and special effects.

Viewers across the Gulf watched the series, which won several awards and has been noted as an early example of the use of CGI in regional productions.

Bahrain TV still occasionally airs re-runs of Hasan and Noor Al Sana.

Sewalif Um Helal

(Um Helal’s Tales)

Years: 1988-1990

Seasons: 3

Genre: Sitcom

Summary: This comedic series follows the high-jinks of Um Helal, a goofy housewife. Every episode, she goes on a new, whacky quest, joined by her husband Marzooq and son Helal.

Though she may be a lot to handle, she is endearing to everyone around her. “Someone should stop her!” and “she is a terror!” neighbours often exclaim at her shenanigans.

Sewalif Um Helal was so popular when it was initially aired in 1988 that it spawned two additional seasons, and a spin-off titled Um Helal in Cairo.

Um Helal, played by Salwa Bukhait, has since become a household name and a media personality, and is more widely known by her on-screen moniker than her real name.

Sa’doon

Year: 1998

Episodes: 15

Genre: Historical drama

Summary: Set during the British Empire’s presence in Bahrain, the series follows troubled teenager Sa’doon, who runs away from home to escape his spiteful step-father and sets out on his own.

Now homeless and destitute, he befriends Mahdi and Jam’aan, two young men living in similarly precarious situations.

They band together to endure hardships, but between tragedy, hunger and injustice, the three friends do not seem to catch a break.

By the end of the show, Sa’doon becomes a symbol of resistance against the British. He is imprisoned for his dissent, and comes out of jail a permanently changed man.

This coming-of-age story is one of the most well-known Bahraini TV series, discussing social issues, including poverty, divorce, unemployment, and the final decades of Bahrain as a British protectorate.

Despite being nearly three decades old and quite short, the show is still present in memory, and continues to have an enduring legacy, with actor Jam’aan Al Rowaie recently reprising his role as Sa’doon during festivities for Bahrain’s victory in the Gulf Cup.

The show was so influential that it even left its mark on the Bahraini dialect, which adopted many words and expressions popularised by the series that have since become commonplace.

The TV series can be watched on YouTube using the QR codes provided. English subtitles can be enabled on the videos by clicking the Closed Captions (CC) button, and going to Settings > Subtitles > Auto-Translate.