Although Deli Yurek was the first Turkish series to be exported, to Kazakhstan in 2001, it was the 2005 romantic series Gumus that catapulted Turkish dizis to global fame. The series, which revolves around a woman from a traditional background adapting to urban life, became immensely popular in the Middle East.
A Thousand and One Nights, a 2006 romantic drama loosely based on a collection of Middle Eastern folktales and set in modern-day Istanbul, captivated audiences in the Balkans. Magnificent Century, based on the 16th-century Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, led the way for historical fiction.
Once an importer of Latin American telenovelas, Turkey is now exporting its dramas to the region. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro visited the set of the historical drama series Resurrection: Ertugrul in 2018, highlighting the appeal of the dizi in his nation.
Haley Uganadi, the founder of the Turkish TV series fan platform Dizilah, says the popularity of the dramas comes from themes that focus on family, friendship, and love, usually set against the backdrop of luxurious lifestyles in Istanbul or Turkey’s rich history.
“They offer something for everyone, regardless of where you are from. Watching Turkish dramas, I see reflections of my mom, myself, and my siblings,” Uganadi said.
Her platform receives about 1.5 million viewers monthly, with fans from the United States, Canada, Greece, India, and Pakistan.
Pinto points to the family-oriented nature of Turkish dramas. “There’s no nudity, no cursing or bad words, not much hate. So, this becomes watchable by the family,” he explains.