Shared past, shared life
Cultural resemblance and traditional intimacy are the underlying reasons for the success of Turkish TV series in the Balkans. In addition, they cover topics that are close to the hearts of viewers in these countries.
“Turkish TV series have definitely increased interest in Turkey and Turkish culture here in the Balkans. I know people who learned the Turkish language (thanks to Turkish dramas) to understand TV series. Arts and culture, in general, bring different cultures together. Thanks to such cultural influences, we feel closer to a certain country and its people,” explains Aida Begić.
Refet Abazi, Albanian actor, playwright and theater teacher tells TRT World: “Most of the series broadcast on Macedonian television are Turkish productions presenting topics of Turkish culture and tradition that are to some extent familiar to our audience. If Elveda Rumeli had great success with a story of the Balkans in the Ottoman era, I believe that today there are many contemporary themes that could blend the Balkans and Turkey. The success story of Elveda Rumeli should serve as an example for production companies in terms of creating joint stories that can reach a wider audience.
According to Albanian sociologist and television presenter Latif Mustafa, historical television shows resonate with people in the Balkans because the stories and characters are familiar to viewers.
“These series are all about history and what we, the people of the Balkans, want to know and enjoy watching because of the memories of the Ottoman Empire.”
A slice of daily life
For viewers in the Balkans, who faced economic and political crises after the collapse of the former Yugoslavia as well as the effects of the 2008 global recession, television shows are a reflection of their own lives: their joys and sorrows, their daily routine and the human will to survive against all odds.
“Turkish TV series increase interest in Turkey, its culture, language and traditions. We are very similar to each other. Any artistic creation, regardless of its genre or medium, if it addresses human issues well, it will communicate with people in the Balkans and around the world. I think Turkish TV shows are very good at handling human drama,” says Ben Apolloni, Albanian director, actor and TV-cinema critic.
“Scenarios with a lot of dramatic tension, with well-written dialogues, interesting characters and significantly better acting than before, have certainly also increased the audience,” he adds.
Technological development
The popularity of Turkish TV series also owes much to their high technological standards, unmatched by similar productions from the Balkans. An added attraction are the exotic locations that form the backdrop to Turkish shows.
Latif Mustafa breaks down the growth in popularity of Turkish films and TV shows into three distinct phases since 1999. First, in the days of VHS tapes, where films could be rented from what were called “video stores.” The second phase took place when “satellite antennas” began to be very popular among the population and Turkish television channels began to broadcast directly to homes in the Balkans. And the third phase, when these series started to be broadcast on national and local terrestrial and digital platforms in the Balkans.
Theme for a dream
The success of Turkish TV shows has also opened up career opportunities, or at least a reason to dream, for aspiring actors from Balkan countries.
“Unfortunately, in North Macedonia we do not produce many TV series. I would love to be part of and explore a new but also very familiar culture,” Sabina Memishi, an actress from the Albanian Theater in Skopje, told TRT World. She was one of the representatives from North Macedonia at the Talent Campus, a platform for future film professionals organized during the 2021 Sarajevo Film Festival.
“For example, part of my family lives in Türkiye. When I go there, I really don’t want to come back to my hometown. Personally, I started learning Turkish thanks to a series I watched. As a young actress, I would love to be a part of this great production industry. For me, quality is the key to their success.
The popularity of Turkish TV series in Balkan countries has also broken and changed prejudices about Turkey and Turkish culture. It has also made a significant contribution to the country’s economy, including increasing the influx of tourists from Balkan countries to Turkey. Special trips are organized to visit the filming locations of the most popular series. People even buy clothes and accessories inspired by those worn on Turkish TV shows.
Many Turkish TV series actors have also become stars in Balkan countries.
“Great actors such as Haluk Bilginer, Ertan Saban, Öykü Karayel, Filiz Ahmet, Yilmaz Erdogan, Engin Altan Düzyatan and many others, add immense value to the series they star in. In actor jargon, this line of actors would be called “heavy artillery,” explains Refet Abazi.
Engin Altan Duzyatan, the main character of the TV series Resurrection: Ertugrul, told TRT World: “It’s great that everyone is learning about Turkish culture through our TV series. It connects us with the world. It’s a great way to expand globally. Turkish TV series are attracting growing interest in Turkey. I can see it by visiting people’s love. I feel honored by the love from the fans. I always try to be worthy of their love.
He also has a message for viewers and fans in the Balkans about his continuing series on TRT called Barbaroslar: Akdeniz’in Kilici (Barbaros: Sword of the Mediterranean): “I hope you like all my adventures. »