TV LEGAL DRAMA THAT WILL OPEN UP JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THE PUBLIC
▶ Real-life cases inspired storylines in new Arabic language series set in the capital
It is a landmark Abu Dhabi legal drama that will bring fictionalised accounts of real-life crimes to an audience far beyond the Emirates.
And Abu Dhabi prosecutors hope a new series set in the judiciary’s corridors of power will open up the justice system to the public.
Qalb Al Adala, which translates as Heart of Justice, premiered on OSN Ya Hala Al Oula HD last night.
The weekly, 18-episode season follows lawyer Hassan, played by Mansoor Al Feeli, and his daughter and law graduate Farah, played by Fatima Al Taei, as they look into a range of cases, from murders to family disputes.
The cases featured in the series are fictionalised accounts of crimes dealt with by Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, which opened up its files to producers from Image Nation.
Prosecutors and officials worked hand in hand with the production team to make sure the scenes and events were as close as possible to reality.
“We gave Image Nation hundreds and thousands of cases to base stories on,” said Jaafar Al Aidarous, head of the ADJD media centre.
One of the storylines features a celebrity, played by the Lebanese actress Nicole Saba, who has been accused of murder.
While he said some may recognise the story from a case that actually occurred in Abu Dhabi, the details have been reshaped to chime with the notorious Dubai murder of Lebanese pop singer Suzanne Tamim in 2008.
“In reality she was not a famous star, she was a normal artist, but we shaped it in a way that combines both Suzanne Tamim and another artist,” Mr Al Aidarous said.
“We did not want to make the stories a copy and paste of the actual cases, so that people could identify the personalities.
“And the goal is not to defame anyone. Abu Dhabi is a small society and people might immediately recognise the characters.”
But he said “some spice” was needed to add to the real life events for dramatic purposes.
Judicial officials watched the pilot ahead of its screening on OSN last night.
Some changes were made for authenticity, while other fictional details were kept for entertainment.
“There was a lengthy discussion between the committee and producers after they showed us the pilot episode. There were things that they had to change based on our recommendations,” said Dr Salah Al Junaibi, head of communications at ADJD.
For example, lawyers would not be allowed to visit a crime scene, he said, without special permission.
“No one is allowed to touch evidence without a court order, and some things that we usually see on TV that do not occur in reality,” Dr Al Junaibi said.
Other examples of artistic licence in the show include allowing witnesses to be questioned in front of each other, and allowing accused and witnesses to argue freely in the courtroom.
“We explained to them that people could get arrested if they speak without the judge’s permission,” Dr Al Junaibi said.
“Paying close attention to details was important because, unlike other court or police dramas whose main purpose is entertainment, our goal was to highlight a dose of legal information in an indirect and influential manner.”
An unexpected bonus of being involved was that some officials landed small parts in the series.
Mr Al Aidarous played the role of a rogue lawyer in several episodes.
“It happened by coincidence,” he said.
“The amateur actor they hired could not play the role right, and they were reshooting takes until 5am. In the end the director looked at me and said ‘you do it’.
“After they prepared me with makeup and so on, I stood in front of the camera and did the entire scene. I thought it was still the test, but the director said it worked and gave me more scenes to play.”
The idea of the series would not have been acceptable 10 years ago, Mr Al Aidarous said.
“When I joined the department in 2008 and told them we should start Twitter and Facebook accounts for the department, they laughed at me,” he said.
“Because the mentality was that the court should have its weight and charisma, how can you place it in a drama?”
When the idea was presented to the head of ADJD, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs – he threw his backing behind it.
“Without Sheikh Mansour’s support it would not have been possible,” Mr Al Aidarous said.