Tag: Turkish dramas

  • This is not the first time ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ is being aired in Pakistan

    A plot twist we didn’t see coming. Turns out this is not the first time Turkish drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul is being aired in Pakistan.

    A Twitter user shared that the drama was dubbed and aired in Urdu five years back on Hum Sitaray.

    The Current reached out to a representative of Hum TV, who confirmed this and said that the first season of the drama was aired in 2015 in Pakistan. He stated that Hum TV bought the rights of the show and dubbed it in Urdu. However, the show failed to catch the attention of the audiences because of which it was dropped after the first season. He further said that while the show was very popular in Turkey, when it was released in December 2014, it was not until it was released on Netflix in April 2017 that it gained international acclaim.

    As for Pakistan, the show was thrust into the spotlight after Prime Minister Imran Khan recommended it and advised the youth to watch it.

    Read more – Yasir Hussain likens Turkish dramas to ‘landay k kapray’

    Set in 13th century Anatolia and based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country. According to PTV, 133.38 million people have watched the drama series from April 25- May 14. PTV’s YouTube channel has also registered an exponential rise in its viewership with 3 million subscribers and episodes trending every day on the social media platform.

    In an exclusive interview with The Current, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed Khan revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.

  • Halime Sultan sends her love to Pakistan

    Halime Sultan sends her love to Pakistan

    Turkish drama Diriliş: Ertuğrul has taken Pakistan by storm ever since it was released in the country in Urdu on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s advice to “help youngsters connect with their roots”.

    As praise pours in for the historical fiction over the internet by both celebrities and the general public, fans have started following the show’s actors on social media. While a handful of people were disappointed with the real lives of the actor, many sent their praises and love to the actors.

    Read more – Pakistanis lose it over ‘un-Islamic’ Instagram of ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ star

    Esra Bilgiç, who essays the role of Halime Sultan, Ertuğrul’s wife has now responded to Pakistanis fans and thanked them for the love they have sent her way. She also added that she would love to meet all her fans in Pakistan once the pandemic is over and the situation normalises.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAQEy7bjYiU/

    Similarly Gülsim Ali, who plays Aslihan Hatun in the third edition of Diriliş: Ertuğrul also expressed her desire to visit Pakistan once the coronavirus pandemic is over.

    “I’ve never been in Pakistan before but I hope one day I’ll be there to meet with you after this pandemic period,” she wrote on Instagram.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CASvq4flSDN/
  • Ahsan Khan asks Pakistanis to ‘at least spare the cast of Ertuğrul’

    Ahsan Khan asks Pakistanis to ‘at least spare the cast of Ertuğrul’

    After Pakistanis moral policed the lead cast – namely Esra Bilgiç and Engin Altan Duzyatan – of hit Turkish drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul and expressed their disappointment over their choice of clothing and living, Ahsan Khan has stepped in to defend the actors and urged Pakistanis to “at least spare the cast”.

    Read more – Pakistanis lose it over ‘un-Islamic’ Instagram of ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ star

    In a Twitter update, the actor expressed his anger at the behaviour of the Pakistanis and said “Who the hell are we to do this to them?”

    Diriliş: Ertuğrul, which was released in the country in Urdu on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s advice to “help youngsters connect with their roots”, has gone on to become a sensation in the country. As praise pours in for the historical fiction over the internet by both celebrities and the general public, fans have started following the show’s actors on social media.

    Read more – ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul is a gift to Pakistan from Erdoğan’

    Amid all the hype, a group of fans, who apparently do not understand the concept of acting, is having a meltdown because actors, who play different characters in the show based in the pre-Ottoman era, are much different in their real lives of the 21st century. These ‘fans’ have left hundreds of unwarranted comments on the Esra’s choice of clothing and have called her out for it.

    Meanwhile, Engin who plays Ertugral in the drama series, has received flak for having a dog inside his house which these people believe is ‘haraam‘.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/1fcscjxFUC/
  • ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul is a gift to Pakistan from Erdoğan’

    ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul is a gift to Pakistan from Erdoğan’

    Turkish historic drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country to the point that PTV is now aiming to set a new record with the series.

    In an exclusive interview with The Current, Senator and Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Faisal Javed Khan revealed that the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.

    “When President Erdogan met PM Imran Khan, he gifted the series to him as a goodwill gesture,” said Khan, adding: “PTV did not have to purchase the drama or its rights. TRT gave the drama free of cost to PTV.”

    It is pertinent to mention here that President Erdoğan himself is a huge fan of the series and has often visited the sets of the drama series and hosted the drama’s creators and cast.

    Senator Faisal Javed further remarked that the youth nowadays have stopped reading books and enjoy watching videos more, which is why the best way to impart knowledge on history to the youth is through dramas, films and music. He said this was the aim of PM Imran Khan when he requested the state-owned channel to air Diriliş: Ertuğrul.

    Meanwhile, addressing Shaan’s concerns, Faisal said that he has worked extensively with Shaan and discussed in detail the situation of the Pakistani entertainment industry. He said that like other industries, the previous governments have not paid much heed to the entertainment industry as well, which is why it is still underdeveloped. He also revealed that the government is working on a policy for the film and entertainment industry and that he hopes that it will be implemented soon. Khan also said that Bollywood films will not be returning to Pakistani screens anytime soon.

    Khan further said that Islamic history has been extensively explored by different cinemas across the world including Turkey and Iran, which is why it doesn’t make any sense to spend further resources on the subject.

    Read more – PM Khan calls out Bollywood for spreading vulgarity

    Watch the complete interview here:

  • VIDEO: Hamza Ali Abbasi covers ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ theme song on guitar

    VIDEO: Hamza Ali Abbasi covers ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ theme song on guitar

    Turkish television show Diriliş: Ertuğrul is very popular among the Pakistani audiences and had a huge fan following even before an Urdu dubbed version of it started airing on PTV. With even Prime Minister Imran Khan recommending the show, Ertugrul has become the talk of the town amongst our celebrities also.

     Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi appears to be the fan of the show too. In a recent video, shared by wife Naimal Khawar, Abbasi can be seen playing the theme song of the show on a guitar. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb8OT5GsC_Y

    The show is being aired on the request of PM Imran Khan. According to the PM, it is a must-watch show for the youth of the country.

    Read More: After ‘Ertugal’, PM Imran Khan wants Pakistanis to watch ‘Yunus Emre: Aşkin Yolculuğu’

    “We’ve always had content from Hollywood and Bollywood which was then being showcased here. A third end culture was being promoted. That’s why I want our youth to know the difference between our values and theirs,” the premier had said while discussing why he requested for the show to be aired in the country.

  • After ‘Ertugal’, PM Imran Khan wants Pakistanis to watch ‘Yunus Emre: Aşkin Yolculuğu’

    After ‘Ertugal’, PM Imran Khan wants Pakistanis to watch ‘Yunus Emre: Aşkin Yolculuğu’

    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.

    Read more – PM Khan calls out Bollywood for spreading vulgarity

    In a Twitter update, Khan shared that PM Khan wants Pakistanis to watch this drama because it highlights Islamic history.

    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.

    Read more – Shaan is disappointed with PTV for airing ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’

    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.

  • Kashmiris are finding solace in Turkish drama ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’

    Turkish historical fiction series Diriliş: Ertuğrul popularly referred to as the Turkish Game of Thrones‘ by fans, has become a sensation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, beating the internet ban in the valley.

    According to a report in Print India, “Diriliş: Ertuğrul, which means ‘Resurrection Ertugrul’, is travelling from one household to another in flash drives, circumventing a government effort to stop local cable operators from airing content produced by Muslim countries such as Turkey, Pakistan and Iran.”

    Fans not only enjoy the show but say it has helped them “rediscover” Islamic history.

    Though the show was popular in the area before the lockdown, its popularity appears to have skyrocketed following the blackout, including in previously uncharted areas of the Valley. Watching the show together has become a family activity for most families living there.

    According to Kashmiris, with no internet, restrictions on civil movement and the shutdown between August and October, contributed to its popularity, to the extent that “analysing” the series is becoming an activity of sorts at coaching centers, street corners and even at mosques.

    As for how they gained access to the show, many people had already downloaded the series before the internet ban, while some got it on trips outside the Valley. The series was then shared between different households.

    Set in 13th century Anatolia, Diriliş: Ertuğrul follows the time before the establishment of the Ottoman Empire and illustrates the struggle of Ertugrul Gazi, the father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty.

    It has five seasons, all of which have more than 25 episodes, each around two hours long.

    Previously, Prime Minister Imran Khan had requested PTV to air the show and had recommended all Pakistanis to watch it because it “promotes the true Islamic values.”

    Following the PM’s request, PTV acquired the rights to the drama and will soon be airing it after it is dubbed in Urdu.

  • Mexican couple converts to Islam after watching PM Imran’s favourite Turkish TV series ‘Resurrection: Ertuğrul’

    Mexican couple converts to Islam after watching PM Imran’s favourite Turkish TV series ‘Resurrection: Ertuğrul’

    A Mexican couple was inspired to convert to Islam after watching Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s favourite Turkish TV series “Resurrection: Ertuğrul”, and meeting with one of its actors at a convention in the United States (US), a Turkish daily newspaper reported.

    According to reports, Celal Al, who plays Abdulrahman Alp in the hit period drama, attended the 22nd annual meeting of the Muslim American Society (MAS), a flagship Muslim organisation, and delivered a speech about the series and Turkey.

    Al, who was the guest of Zekat Foundation, was met with great interest at the event, which enables Muslims from all over the US to meet up. At the end of the meeting, a Mexican couple converted to Islam by reciting the Shahadah (Islamic proclamation of faith) with the help of the famous actor.

    “We were affected by Turkish TV series ‘Resurrection: Ertuğrul’ and Turkey’s humanitarian activities around the world, and then decided to be Muslim,” the Mexican couple was quoted as saying.

    After becoming Muslims, Al gifted the couple two Qurans, one in English and another in Spanish, as well as a Turkish flag.

    Taking place in 13th century Anatolia, “Resurrection: Ertuğrul” tells the story of the period prior to the establishment of the Ottoman Empire Ertuğrul Gazi, the father of the empire’s first leader.

    The series illustrates the struggle of Ertuğrul and his warriors against a plethora of adversaries from the Knights Templar to Mongol invaders.

    Turkey is one of the top five series-exporting countries in the world, enthralling audiences from Latin America to Central Asia. Dozens of Turkish series are being followed by more than 500 million viewers in over 150 countries, according to Turkey’s Culture Ministry.

    A day earlier, PM Imran had directed Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) to air the famous Turkish series.

    According to Arab News, the drama will soon air on PTV after being dubbed in Urdu. the national broadcaster has gotten exclusive rights for dubbing and screening it in Pakistan and voice actors for the drama have been selected.

    The development came two months after the premier announced that Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia have decided to launch a joint English channel to counter Islamophobia.

  • PM Imran requests PTV to air Turkish drama in Urdu

    PM Imran requests PTV to air Turkish drama in Urdu

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has requested PTV to air famous Turkish historical fiction series Dirilis: Ertugrul. The drama is popularly referred to as the Turkish ‘Game of Thrones‘ by fans.

    According to a report in Arab News, the drama will soon air on PTV after being dubbed in Urdu. PTV has gotten exclusive rights for dubbing and screening it in Pakistan and voice actors for the drama have been selected.

    The report said that PM Khan had recommended the popular TV opera to all Pakistanis as promoting the true Islamic values.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the initiative has been taken at the behest of the prime minister to protect “our social, cultural and religious norms.”

    She said that the Muslim world has its own cultural heritage and values and that the drama can enlighten and broaden the understanding of the history of Islam, especially among younger generations.

    “It is also PM Khan’s vision to share media content to counter Islamophobia and improve understanding of Islamic values,” Awan added.

    Back in September PM Khan has shared that Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia will jointly launch a TV channel to fight Islamophobia. PM Imran had said that the English language TV Channel will be like BBC which will also highlight the issues faced by the Muslim world.

    Dirilis: Ertugrul is set in 13th century Anatolia, before the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. It illustrates the struggle of Ertugrul Gazi, the father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty.

    Since its premiere on state-run Turkish TV channel TRT 1 in November 2014, the serial has been telecasted in 60 countries.