Poets battle it out in Abu Dhabi

Transcript

00:00It's a cross between Big Brother and Pop Idol, with an Arab twist.

00:10Prince of Poets is the region's newest glitzy reality TV show, where Arab classical poets

00:16battle it out for the public vote.

00:18These contestants know how to whip up a crowd, and have people mesmerised with their lyrical

00:23flow.

00:24We went behind the scenes to meet some of them.

00:27I try my best to call the genie of poems.

00:35In the midnight, with the light of the candle, I feel that I'm in front of myself.

00:42And don't be

01:09fooled by the stiff looking suits.

01:12These guys can get pretty emotional.

01:15I feel some energy I can't deal with, try to contain and to put in a way, in an understandable

01:25way.

01:27And then it comes thread by thread until it finishes.

01:37Contestants are grilled every week by a panel of expert judges, and open themselves up

01:41to their harsh criticism.

01:43But behind the colourful sets, programme makers have a serious agenda.

01:48You know when I give a poem, just a poem, I might talk about my culture, I'm representing

01:55my feelings, representing my expressions, my thoughts, my customs.

02:00And from one poem, I can save lives.

02:04The audiences will now vote to see who will join Algerian Khalidiyya Gabala, who impressed

02:09the judges in the first round.

02:11And viewers are set for an emotional rollercoaster ride of poetry over the coming weeks.

02:16Ashraf Helmi, Gulf News.