An entire generation of Saudis will never forget their first trip to the cinema. Nor will they forget the name and face of Fayez Al Maliki, the star of the first Saudi movie to be screened in the Kingdom in 30 years.

In December, two Saudi cinemas unveiled screenings of ‘Menahi’, a $2m film directed by Ayman Makram and financed and produced by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud.

The film, which marks Al Maliki’s debut on the big screen, features the actor’s hugely popular TV persona, Menahi, a naive, humble farmer who often finds himself involved in comic escapades. The plot centres on Menahi’s involvement in a get-rich-quick scheme and his travels from his tribal homeland to the booming metropolis of Dubai.

Al Maliki had trouble containing his excitement at the screenings — a sensation no doubt shared by many who squeezed into the packed venues for a glimpse of their hero.

“Today I feel like I’m getting married and I’m very happy. This is the first experiment and it has been very successful,” he said. “I think, with Allah’s help, success is ours. It was a great experience and hopefully the next films we make will just get better.”

Turnout for the movie was so big the film had to be played eight times a day over a 10 day period.