Bassam Al Mulla is the producer of one of last year’s most successful Arabic TV series, Bab al Hara or The Neighbourhood’s Gate. Watched by tens of millions of people across the Middle East, the series portrays the daily happenings and family dramas of a neighbourhood in Syria’s capital Damascus during the inter-war period under the French rule when people dreamed of independence. Part of the wide success of the show is its cross-demographical appeal and suitability to Muslims, Christians, Druze and even Jews from Arab countries.
Bab al Hara, a Syrian production financed by Gulf-state satellite channels, was strategically timed for Ramadan as part of the modern trend of soap operas during the month when regional TV channels broadcast special programmes every night. The first installment of the series was broadcast on MBC in 2006, comprising 31 episodes. Its popularity and positive reception led to the creation of another installment entitled Bab al-Hara 2, which received an even wider acclaim in Ramadan of 2007.
The third part is to be aired in Ramadan of 2008 as officially announced on al Arabiya channel in October 2007. Bab al Hara 3 will focus on the post-marriage lives of the children Abu Issam, the local doctor and barber.
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