Prominent Syrian director Bassam Al-Mulla dies at the age of 66

The prominent Syrian director Bassam Al-Mulla died on Saturday at the age of 66 after directing many famous Levantine Environment series, the most famous of which is “Bab Al Hara” TV series which achieved a sweeping Arab success.

The Ministry of Culture and the Syrian Artists’ Syndicate mourned Al-Mulla, who died in Lebanon, pointing out that work is underway to transfer his body from Beirut to Damascus in preparation for his funeral.

Al-Mulla was born in 1956 to an artistic family. He is the son of the late actor Adham Al-Mulla and the brother of two directors; Moamen and Bashar Al-Mulla and an actor called Moayad Al-Mulla.

Al-Mulla started his career as an assistant director before becoming a director and general supervisor of many series.

He was famous for directing the Levantine Environment series, most notable of which is the “Bab Al-Hara” series in its first five parts between 2006 and 2010, and then he took over the general supervision of the series in later parts.

Some of Al-Mulla’s colleagues call him “the godfather of Levantine Environment works” as he achieved great success in many series, such as Ayam Shamiya, Al-Khawali and Layali Al-Salihiya.

His works “Al-Khishkhash, which spread widely upon its screening in 1991, as well as “Al-Ababeed, which was screened in 1996 and which depicted the life of Queen Zenobia of Palmyra were among his masterpieces.  

Al-Mulla’s last work was “Souk Al-Harir” part II, which was screened during last Ramadan on several TV channels.

According to the head of the Damascus branch of the Syrian Artists’ Syndicate Tamador Ghanem said Al-Mulla’s death was a shock to his colleagues and friends and a loss to the Syrian drama and the Levantine Environment works which he had efficiently mastered.

Hamda Mustafa