Hisham Sharbatji, a prominent Syrian Drama Director, passes away, leaving rich legacy of important drama works
You can’t ask a Syrian about these Syrian T.V Series: “Maraya “ , Eyleh Khams Njoom”, “Youmiayt Jameel wa Hana”, “Batal Min Haza Alzaman” and many more, without getting an awesome feedback about them. You know why?!, simply because the director of these Drama works is Hisham Sharbatji, one of Syria’s most influential Syrian Drama makers who knew how to bring joy into the houses of every Syrian. Yesterday, this talented man passed away, leaving a huge record of drama works for generations to come leaving us a legacy of important comedy drama works that enriched the Arab drama in general.
Hisham Sharbatji was born on March 2nd, 1948 in Al-Mouhajrin neighborhood in Damascus. He finished school in Damascus and got a bachelor’s degree from the Academy of Arts (Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts) in Cairo in 1972, then he traveled to Germany to complete his studies, eventually coming back to Syria to make the best out of the Syrian Drama, using comedy as a tool to present Syrian peoples’ issues and concerns.
He was called “Sheikh Al-Kar” as he mastered the Art of Drama directing.
His daughter, the Prominent Drama Director Rasha Sharbatji, mourned him through heartfelt goodbye words.
Rasha said: “I owe you my success and good reputation “
She wrote on her facebook: “He who was my first teacher left me today. He left me only physically, but his spirit will remain with me in all my details, in every moment he taught me how to stand behind the camera and manage its movement, in every moment I called him “Baba” and found him beside me, in every word he ever said to me whether I accepted it or even I rejected it and in every hug that was full of love and pride.”
she ended, saying: “You were my refuge, glory and support. I will keep going in the path after you, remain keen to implement all your instructions that you have instilled in me, and I promise you that I will be faithful to my work and become better, but I know that I will not be like you because you are a person that can’t be repeated, and no one should forget everything that he gave us. We owe him a pure memory.”
Many other Syrian and Arab drama stars and journalists also mourned Sharbatji amomng whom were:
Nahla Al-Susu, a Syrian Journalist and writer, who recalled what she called “The Hisham Sharbatji Era”.
“Radio Damascus, with a long history, had an era that is confidently described as the era of Hisham Sharbatji, the magician who grabbed exceptional control of the radio without a competitor and presented it to Syrian homes from north to south in a platinum period he called / Damascus with you on air/, and from it all Arab broadcasts followed in his footsteps.”
Al-Susu continued by saying: “In the early morning, Hisham Sharbatji used to turn technicians, broadcasters, and editors into focus mode in his own way. As for the tired of us, he refreshes him, and as for the lazy, he stimulates him, and as for the arrogant, he restores him to his size, and in the breaks, his conversations were lessons in the art of communication and the art of dramatic writing of all kinds.”
Prominent Syrian actress Sulaf Fawakherji: “The great Hisham Sharbatji passed away and left us a great artistic legacy and lessons known to everyone who had the privilege of working with him.
Artist Ahmad Zaher described the late Sharbatji as “the Joy maker”
He wrote : “Farewell, Hisham Sharbatji, farewell to the maker of joy, my teacher and my love,” expressing his great sadness at his departure.”
The famous Syrian star Ayman Zidan expressed his sadness at the passing away of the director Hisham Sharbatji. He wrote: Goodbye, friend of the journey who was fond of research and passion, and who is the greatest among makers of joy. Losses continue and death kidnaps our loved ones. Sharbatji’s achievements can’t be described in a few words.
Leen Al-Salman