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Yabanci Damat
Found in: Turkish television series
Yabanci Damat , is a very popular Turkish TV series distributed by Erler Film with 106 episodes in total. It deals with the relationship between a young Greek man Niko and a Turkish girl Nazli, and the problems (and especially the prejudices) encountered in an intercultural marriage. Its comedic tone and play on historic Greco-Turkish antagonism made it a huge hit in both Turkey and Greece, as well as making stars out of the leading actors. The episodes are shot in Turkey and Greece. The music is Turkish and Greek.
The series ran from November 12, 2004 through June 15 2007 on the Turkish TV channel Kanal D Friday evenings at 20.00 hrs. The Greek channel Mega TV broadcasts it since July 4, 2005. The first season was shown on a daily basis at 23.00 hrs, the second season was shown every Monday at 21:00. The third season was split, half of the episodes where shown Saturdays of 2007 at 21:00 and the other half episodes are shown on 2008, every Saturday at 17:00. The series used to have great success, especially when the first season was shown. The ratings of the third season are very low, so the channel decided to move the series in the evening schedule.
Plot
Nazli is the daughter of a conservative Turkish father Kahraman, who is a famous baklava maker in Gaziantep. Her grandfather Memik Dede is a Korean War veteran. Niko, whose parents are immigrants from Istanbul, is the son of a wealthy Greek ship owner Stavro. Nazli and Niko meet in Bodrum, fall in love at first sight and decide to marry. The comedy starts when Niko goes to Gaziantep to ask for her fathers agreement to the marriage. Historical enmity between the two nations makes it very hard, and both families oppose the marriage in the beginning. Finally, Nazli and Niko found a family and settle in Istanbul. They meaningfully name their son Ege ("Aegean"), the sea between Turkey and Greece.
The families visit each other several times for various reasons and get so closer. Niko's spinster aunt Katina gets married with a Turkish man, much exacerbating her mother Efthalia. Even the initial hatred between the older members of the families, Memik Dede and Efthalia, turns to a romantic affair.
On the other hand, Kadir, the son of Okke, who is the business partner of Kahraman, marries Stella, the Greek secretary of Niko.
Cast
The cast of the series is mostly experienced Turkish actors and actresses.
Family of Nazli
Nehir Erdogan - Nazli
Erdal Ozyagcilar - Kahraman, father of Nazli, a famous baklava maker in Gaziantep
Sumru Yavrucuk - Feride, mother of Nazli
Binnur Kaya - Nazire, elder sister of Nazli
Ilker Aksum - Ruen, husband of Nazire
Family of Niko
Ozgur Cevik - Niko (Nikos)
Mazlum Kiper - Stavro (Stavros), father of Niko
Ayla Karaca - Eleni, mother of Niko
Tulin Oral - Eftelya (Euthalia), grandmother of Niko
Family of Kadir
Engin Akyurek - Kadir, former lover of Nazli
Zeki Alasya - Okke, father of Kadir, business partner of Kahraman
Seray Gozler - Hayriye, mother of Kadir
Minor roles
Yeliz Akkaya - Esra Bicaklama, Nikos assistant
Guzin Alkan - Done, maid of Nazli's family
Natalia Doussopoulos - Anna, Nikos girlfriend
Binnaz Ergin - Ikramiye
Yilmaz Gruda - Celayir Usta, Okkes baklava master
Ahmet Uz - Hikmet
Sinasi Yurtsever - Hamit, husband of Done
Locations
The episodes are shot in Bodrum, Gaziantep, Istanbul in Turkey and on the Greek Island of Symi and in Athens.
Awards
2006 "Best TV series of the Year" award by the Turkish Association of Radio and Television Journalists along with two other TV series.
2004: "Best Supporting Actress" award by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
2004: "Best Actor" (nominated) by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
2004: "Best Actress" (nominated) by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
2004: "Best Music" by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
2004: "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" (nominated) by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
2004: "Best Director" by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
External links
Yabanci Damat at the Internet Movie Database
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Yabanci Damat