"If we want to know what's happening in Italy, we have to know what's happening in Brazil." This phrase, often repeated by Hosni al-Bourzan (played by Nihad Qaali), became a common saying, used until recently as a form of humor, lightheartedness, and to create a pleasant atmosphere. Later, it was used to mock the political situation.
In an article published on the Syriandays website, writer Najwa Saliba explained that a "hit" is a phrase an actor uses in a drama, becoming known and even a signature. This has become increasingly common in recent years, expressed in various ways—sometimes as a complete phrase, sometimes as a single word. As for the reason behind choosing a particular phrase, some artists have given different explanations in previous interviews and statements. Some said it was simply a phrase, others said they had seen a real person use it and liked it, and still others said it was inspired by the current situation.
She added that in this Ramadan drama season, catchphrases were used in most productions, spoken by many actors, and even within the same series. For example, in the series "Al-Nawilati," actor Samer Al-Masri, who plays Faisal Pasha, repeatedly says "Namlat," while actress Dima Kandalaft, who plays Khawla Khanum, repeatedly says "Billah." Every time she calls the workshop worker "Antar," he replies "Anbar," and we later discover that they are twins and she still can't tell them apart. In the series "Matbakh Al-Madina," actress Amal Arafa uses a catchphrase drawn from real life, repeatedly saying "Ba'in Allah." What distinguishes it is that it's a natural response because anyone could say this phrase dozens of times a day. Therefore, this kind of catchphrase doesn't cause aversion, boredom, or resentment due to its repetition.
According to the writer, the most widely circulated and popular catchphrase is the one uttered by actor Taim Hassan in the series "Mawlana," where he plays the character "Jaber," who has a speech impediment, pronouncing the letter "jeem" as "zay." He constantly has to explain, saying, "Rayeh zayi... zame' kneisa," meaning "Going back and forth... to the church."
This doesn't mean that the goal of these catchphrases has been achieved. It must be acknowledged that most of them have an impact on a significant percentage of young people and teenagers, to the point that some have remained ingrained in their behavior for many years after the series aired. This is similar to certain mannerisms that an actor would repeat, such as tapping on a car or a table, or running their hair in a peculiar way. We observe this today on various social media platforms, whereas previously we noticed this influence in real life—at school, in the street, at home, and at work.
The writer concluded by saying, “The question that arises, and which we direct to those concerned, is: Does every work need a ‘joke’ to carry it? Does every actor need a ‘joke’ to be remembered? Has the ‘joke’ become an identity for some actors and not others?”
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