Imran Abbas, who was recently shooting a special Ramzan Transmission from the heart of the Ottoman Empire Istanbul, has been selected as a ‘Goodwill Ambassador from Pakistan’ to visit different countries in Africa along with the ‘leading Turkish actors’.
“Honoured to be selected by the government of Turkey and its Ministry of Religious Affairs as the Goodwill Ambassador from Pakistan to visit, this week, to Tanzania and many African countries along with leading Turkish actors to provide water, food, education and other basic needs of life to the people of those countries,” wrote Abbas on social media while announcing the news.
He added that he will also be “presenting the gift of thousands of Quran to Muslims as well” during the trip.
Abbas has made several visits to Turkey in the past couple of month and is popular among Turkish stars. He was earlier also spotted hanging out with renowned actors including Celal AL, Yeşim Ceren Bozoğlu (Hazal Hatun in Kuruluş: Osman) and Cenk Kangöz (Diriliş: Ertuğrul). Abbas alsovisitedthe sets of Kuruluş: Osman, where he was presented the flag of the Kayi tribe.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to air Diriliş: Ertuğrul on state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) has opened new doors for the Pakistani entertainment industry with a new alliance formed between Pakistani production house Ansari Films and Turkish production house Tekden Films.
According to a press release, “Countering the narrative of Islamophobia and highlighting the teachings of Islam and the goodness the religion propagates will be a key focus of the new alliance between Pakistan-based Ansari Films and Turkish production house Tekden Films. This was discussed during one of the many meetings held during the recent Turkey visit of Pakistani delegation to Turkey.”
The Pakistani delegation comprising of Adnan Siddiqui, Humayun Saeed, producers Dr Kashif Ansari of Ansari Films and Dr Junaid Ali Shah met senior ministers in the Turkish government and discussed an upcoming series Turki Lala, which will be a joint production venture between the two countries. Turki Lala is expected to go on floors soon. The plot of the upcoming venture is based on “Turki Lala who is considered to be one of the most glorious Muslim nationalists to have assisted Turkey during the Balkan War and World War I.”
According to the Ansari-Tekden team, this will [the partnership] start a new chapter in the cross-border talent exchange including actors and writers and more programmes on popular names in the history.”
During their three-day visit, the Pakistani delegation also met several Turkish dignitaries including Governor of Istanbul Ali Yerlikaya, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Youth and Sports Minister M. Muharrem Kasapoglu.
Speaking about the project, Humayun said: “Turkey has very graciously extended its cooperation to us when we start shooting the series. Turki Lala is a formidable figure in Pak-Turkey relations that go back centuries. The programme will be a tribute to his heroics as well the great friendship between the two nations.”
Similarly, Adnan while sharing his thoughts on the project said: “Plans are afoot to create content that breaks the myth surrounding Muslims which, unfortunately, has led to unnecessary hatred towards the community. We want people to know that Islam is all about purity of thought and deeds through our future productions. We had a detailed dialogue on the same with the communication director of Presidency Fahrettin Altun.”
Bugün, Turki Lala’nın hayatını konu eden dizi projesini Pakistanlı yapımcılardan dinleme imkanı bulduk. Türk ve Pakistanlı oyuncuların bir arada olacağı dizi projesi Pakistan’la olan kültürel bağlarımızı inşallah daha da güçlendirecek. Emeği geçenlere teşekkür ederim. pic.twitter.com/FYksOyfJ9u
Earlier, Turkish actor Celal Al warmly welcomed Humayun, Adnan, Reema Khan and Sadia Khan in Turkey.
In January when a Turkish delegation visited Pakistan, Humayun had announced that he and his “friend Adnan Siddiqui” are bringing the biggest project ever in collaboration with Kashif [Ansari] and “our Turkish brothers”. He revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed between Tekdin Films and Dr Kashif Ansari of Ansari Films and TRT Films which would lead to a collective project and Adnan and Humayun would be overseeing casting and production-related decisions in Pakistan.
While a release date for the project has not been announced, it is being speculated that the series will begin to air some time in 2023.
Meanwhile, Adnan and Humayun have been sharing pictures of themselves enjoying the beauty of Turkey.
Hadiqa Kiani has collaborated with Turkish singer Ali Tolga for a song dedicated to Kashmiri martyrs and those during the failed coup attempt in Turkey in 2016.
The song titled Daimi Bahar, which means ‘eternal spring’ opens with the line: “In everlasting memory of our beloved martyrs: July 13, 1931, Kashmir Martyr’s Day, July 15 2016, Failed Turkish Coup Attempt.”
The song features lyrics in both Urdu and Turkish, with Hadiqa singing in both the languages.
The music video features some stunning shots of Indian-occupied Kashmir in all its snow-covered glory, clips of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, the plight of the Kashmiris and the struggle against the failed coup in Turkey back in 2016.
https://youtu.be/X6z1ET4O0GY
Daimi Bahar hits all the rights notes and your heart goes out to all those suffering in the picturesque valley.
Kiani has often raised her voice against Indian atrocities in Kashmir. Earlier, the singer had said that the Kashmir issue is no longer Pakistan vs India but is in fact an issue for humanity, for families, “for the greater good”.
This is no longer a Pakistan vs India issue. This is an issue for humanity, for families, for the greater good. Either you side with good or evil.
It appears that Prime Minister Imran Khan is a big fan of Turkish cinema because Senator Faisal Javed Khan has revealed that the premier wants Yunus Emre: Aşkin Yolculuğu to be telecast in Pakistan.
In a Twitter update, Khan shared that PM Khan wants Pakistanis to watch this drama because it highlights Islamic history.
….for unity. Yet another hit created by Mehmet Bozdag is a Journey of Transformation. Yunus Emre was well versed in mystical philosophy, esp that of the 13th-century poet and mystic Jalaluddin Rumi. Serial is a great example of a meticulous attention to detail work @trtworldpic.twitter.com/svDX4Z2M2L
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) May 4, 2020
Yunus Emre: Aşkın Yolculuğu is a Turkish biographical historical television series created by Mehmet Bozdağ, the man behind Diriliş: Ertuğrul. It starres Gökhan Atalay in the lead role. According to Faisal, the series is a journey of transformation. It centres around the life of Yunus Emre, the 14th century Anatolian Sufi poet, who greatly influenced the Anatolian culture.
The first episode of the series was released on June 18, 2015 and over the years it has become a favourite among the Turkish audiences. It has an IMDb rating of 7.8.
Meanwhile, on the recommendation of PM Imran, PTV has started airing Diriliş: Ertuğrul with Urdu dubbing. The drama has proven to be a big hit among Pakistani audiences.
Turkish film Miracle In Cell No 7 – 7. Koğuştaki Mucize in the local language – is coming to Pakistani cinemas on March 13.
HKC Entertainment, an entertainment company primarily involved in acquiring and distributing Bollywood and Hollywood movies in Pakistan, shared the news on social media.
The Legend of Maula Jatt producer Ammara Hikmat also confirmed the news. Though Hikmat said that the film will be the first Turkish film to release in Pakistani cinemas, a quick Google search revealed that Muhabbat Ek Ittefaq was released in Urdu earlier in 2013.
First Turkish Film in Pakistani cinemas all set to release on 13th of March..
The film based on the 2013 Korean movie Miracle in Cell No 7 is “a heartwarming story” about the love between a mentally-ill father, Mehmet, who is wrongly accused of murder, and his young daughter. Mehmat is sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit and is innocent. He needs a miracle so that he can be reunited with his daughter.
7. Koğuştaki Mucize has a rating of 8.3 on IMDb and was reportedly the most watched Turkish film in 2019.
The film will be releasing in Turkish with English subtitles. It starres Aras Bulut Iynemli, Nisa Sofiya Aksongur and Deniz Baysal.
