Russian public watches Turkish series: It has become a cult

Most recently, Turkish actor Burak Özçivit stepped into Russian cinema by starring in the 11th installment of Russia's popular New Year-themed film series, Yolki. Playing himself in the film, Özçivit took part in a story inspired by the Cinderella fairy tale, with filming taking place in the city of Almetyevsk in Tatarstan. And this news has once again brought the phenomenon of Turkish series in Russia under the spotlight.

The Kazan-based website BiznesOnline examined the subject and summarized it for its readers as follows:

"Turkish series have been receiving great attention in Russia for many years and have practically become a cult. Turkish series provide viewers with powerful emotions and offer an escape from the ordinariness of daily life. Especially with their dramatic plotlines, impossible love stories, and attractive actors, Turkish series have gained great popularity among Russian viewers. Journalist Anastasia Lotareva explains the basis of this interest by saying, 'Turkish series offer us the bright emotions that are missing in our daily lives.'"

IT STARTED WITH THE 'ÇALIKUŞU' SERIES

According to the report in Türkrus, the transformation of Turkish series into a cultural phenomenon in Russia began with the series "Çalıkuşu," which was broadcast in 1986. This series paved the way for Turkey to become one of the world leaders in series exports. Turkey is currently the country that exports the most series after the USA, and its annual series export revenue has exceeded 500 million dollars. Turkish series are watched in more than 150 countries and reach more than 400 million regular viewers worldwide.

The Turkish series industry began to develop from the 1970s onwards and achieved a major breakthrough globally in the 2000s. The series "Muhteşem Yüzyıl" (The Magnificent Century), which was broadcast in 2011, was sold to more than 50 countries and consolidated Turkey's power in series exports. In 2017, the series "Kara Sevda" (Endless Love) crowned the international success of the Turkish series industry by winning the International Emmy Award in the "Best Telenovela" category.

TURKISH SERIES MAKE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY

The popularity of Turkish series also has economic and cultural dimensions. According to journalist Anastasia Lotareva, Turkish series make a major contribution to the country's economy and help Turkey build a positive image worldwide. State support also plays a major role in the global success of Turkish series. Institutions such as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Economy, as well as the personal support of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stand out as one of the important factors behind this success.

Turkish series are followed by a large audience not only in Russia but all over the world. Approximately 400 million people watch Turkish series every year. These series are generally known for their strong dramatic stories and striking visuals. Especially series like "Muhteşem Yüzyıl" still have a large fan base among Russian viewers. The fact that Turkey exports series to more than 150 countries supports this success with concrete data."

News Source: 12punto