Director of Communications Altun said, "Today, nearly a billion people worldwide watch Turkish series, and this is a very critical factor. Indeed, when we look at it from this perspective, we are looking at true success."
Addressing the gala of TRT 1's new series "Mehmed: Sultan of Conquests," held at Haliç the Congress Centre, the Presidency's Director of Communications, Fahrettin Altun, noted that the series is a major project and a significant investment.
Stressing that they hope the project will significantly contribute to Türkiye's popular culture industry, cultural heritage and broadcasting life, Altun said: "The series focuses on a pivotal figure in terms of the history of civilisations and world history. The series depicts and relates the story of Mehmed the Conqueror and his achievements, most notably the conquest of Constantinople. This series mainly portrays the story of Mehmed the Conqueror, a ruler who institutionalised the Ottoman Empire and converted it into a true state with all its aspects.
Quoting Ottoman historian Prof. Halil İnalcık regarding Mehmed the Conqueror, Director of Communications Altun stated, "He is the most exceptional ruler ever cultivated in history," and added, "Mehmed the Conqueror is undeniably a genius ruler who led the conquest of İstanbul, which marked both the end of an era and the beginning of a new one in the annals of civilization. Furthermore, the Ottoman Empire achieved substantial advancements in numerous spheres over an extended period of time thanks to the governing system he devised and implemented."
Noting that the series "Mehmed: Sultan of Conquests" corresponds to the beginning of the rise of the Ottoman Empire', Director of Communications Altun stated, "As the series progresses, it becomes clear that there are numerous parallels between that era and the present day; therefore, I consider this series to be extremely meaningful in this respect as well."
Director of Communications Altun cited novelist Kemal Tahir's words regarding the three essential needs of people of culture and said:
"He argues, 'First, we need an authentic culture. Furthermore, we need a solid conception of the world. Türkiye and the Turkish people need to be understood.' These words were uttered by Kemal Tahir in Türkiye during the 1960s, and despite significant efforts to comprehend the history of the Ottoman Empire since then, this history has also been suppressed. We are delighted to observe that a reconciliation with this history has begun to take place in recent times and that it is now being presented in all its true dimensions in a very serious manner."
"It contributes significantly to the Türkiye brand"
Emphasising that the language of art and cinema is vital at this point, Director of Communications Altun said, "Therefore, it is essentially our duty to our people to reconcile with our history through art and cinema, thereby revealing the profoundness and reality of our history in all its facets. In fact, this is a duty that the artist also has to society. Praise be to Allah, our TV series and movie sector have been developing in this regard recently and have been significantly investing in the Türkiye brand."
Noting that the series in question will greatly contribute to the Türkiye brand and that it is an initiative that will enhance the Türkiye brand in the international arena, Director of Communications Altun added,
''I attach great importance to this series in this regard. We are pleased to observe that, over the past three years, there has been an 183% increase in consumer interest in Turkish TV series worldwide. Approximately one billion individuals worldwide currently watch Turkish TV series, making this an essential aspect. Indeed, we are experiencing true success in this regard. It is also important to note that these productions represent our endeavours to resist the system of cultural exploitation, global imperialism, and attempts at cultural degeneration. I attach great importance to this series in this regard.''
Director of Communications Altun wrapped up his remarks, thanking everyone who contributed to the project.
The Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism, Coşkun Yılmaz, as well as TV series actors and a number of well-known figures from the world of art, attended the programme.
The Director General of TRT, Zahid Sobacı, also delivered a speech at the premiere.
Director of Communications Altun and the guests watched the first episode of the series during the programme, which featured a performance by the Mehter Band.
