The Arabic drama Salma will premiere August 17 on MBC1 and stream on Shahid.
Medyapim has completed production on Salma, the new Arabic-language adaptation of Nippon TV’s award-winning drama Woman -My Life for My Children-.
The series title, Salma, means “peace” and comes from the root word “salam.” It will debut on August 17 on MBC1, the flagship channel of MBC Group, and will also be available to stream on the Shahid platform.
From Japanese hit to Arabic adaptation
Woman -My Life for My Children- was created by Cannes Film Festival award-winner Yuji Sakamoto and produced by Hisashi Tsugiya for Nippon TV.
The storyline follows a single mother’s unconditional love for her children and her struggle to survive amid economic hardship.
In Turkey, Medyapim adapted the drama in 2017 under the title Kadin, which ran for three successful seasons totaling 81 episodes and has been distributed to over 60 countries.
Now, Salma will follow the core story of the Japanese original while adding a local touch, with 90 episodes produced for Arabic audiences.
A history of collaboration with MBC
Medyapim and MBC have previously partnered on several projects, including the Arabic adaptations of Doctor Foster (BBC Studios), the Turkish drama War of the Roses, and Nippon TV’s Mother.
Based in Saudi Arabia, MBC GROUP is the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa, operating more than 13 free-to-air TV channels, 3 radio stations, and Shahid, the leading Arabic streaming platform worldwide.
Voices from the production
Keisuke Miyata, Head of Scripted Format Licensing at Nippon TV, stated: “This story has already touched audiences in more than 60 countries through Medyapim’s outstanding Turkish adaptation. With Salma, we hope to reach deep into the hearts of Arabic viewers as they follow her journey to find happiness by listening to her heart.”
Fatih Aksoy, Chairman of Medyapim, shared: “When I first adapted Nippon TV’s Woman in Turkey, my mother inspired me every step of the way. She was a Turkish woman of Arab descent. Bringing this story to life again in her native language is profoundly exciting for me.”
Tareq Al-Ibrahim, Director of MBC1, MBC DRAMA, and SVOD Content at Shahid, added: “Salma is a perfect example of how storytelling transcends borders and cultures. With Nippon TV and Medyapim honoring the story’s Japanese roots and Turkish evolution, and MBC bringing in authentic Arabic essence, we are delivering a truly universal human story.”
