Hatirla Sevgili

About the series

Hatırla Sevgili (Remember, Darling) is a popular and controversial Turkish political drama that aired on ATV from November 2006 to 6 June 2008, for 68 episodes. Produced by Sis Yapım and directed by Ümmü Burhan, it stars Cansel Elçin as Ahmet, Beren Saat as Yasemin and Okan Yalabık, and was followed by the spin-off Bu Kalp Seni Unutur mu?.

Plot

The series spans three periods of Turkish political history: 1959–1962, 1966–1972 and 1977–1980. It tells the love story of Yasemin and Ahmet, two young people from opposing families, against the background of real events: Prime Minister Adnan Menderes surviving a 1959 plane crash, the 1960 military coup, the Yassıada trials, the executions and the growing polarisation that followed.

Yasemin’s father Rıza and Ahmet’s father Şevket are childhood friends and neighbours who develop opposite political views. Rıza joins the right-wing Democrat Party and enters parliament, while Şevket, a public prosecutor, follows the left-leaning Republican People’s Party. When Yasemin falls in love with Ahmet, their families refuse to let them be together.

Why it matters

Hatırla Sevgili was one of the first Turkish series to dramatise the country’s recent political history so directly, sparking debate and winning a passionate audience. It also helped launch Beren Saat into stardom.

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