Reviews 
 

TV Serial

Dirilis Ertugrul

History in Action

By Muhammad Ali Khan | July 2020

The popular TV series that has taken Pakistani audiences by storm is the Turkish serial Dirilis Ertugrul (Resurrection Ertugrul), known as Ertugrul Ghazi in Pakistan. It all started when the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, met the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad at the UNGA in September 2019. Together they floated the idea of launching a TV channel to create a counter-narrative against what they called rising Islamophobia. During their discussion, Ertugrul surfaced, considering its role in promoting Islamic culture.

One rarely expects the Prime Minister of a nation to become a cheerleader for a television show but considering the drama had a rich heritage, cultural history and Islamic values, he advised PTV to broadcast it. Since PTV aired its first Urdu-dubbed episode on the first of Ramazan, the serial has broken all popularity records and has brought a massive viewership to the channel. Reviving PTV’s ratings, the show was even trending at No. 1 on YouTube in Pakistan.

Backing the show with words and action, the main aim of the Prime Minister was to establish Pakistan as a pre-eminent player in the Muslim world. His goal of promoting the Islamic historical narrative seemed pretty clear and thus his decision unleashed a phenomenon that has since gripped his nation and become the talking point among fans and critics.

Created by Mehmet Bozdag and directed by Menit Gunay, the historic action-adventure series is based on the real-life events of 13th century Muslim Oghuz Turk leader, Ertugrul of the Kayi tribe. He was also the father of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire, which lasted for over 600 years and covered parts of Europe, Asia and North Africa. The series spans five seasons, combining personal narratives with the expansion of the ethnic Oghuz Turks.

The internationally acclaimed Turkish drama takes the name of the father and presents his tribe as a band of plucky rebels caught between Christian crusaders, Byzantine warriors and fearsome Mongols. It is the story of Ertugrul’s tribe who invokes Islam and triumphs against all odds. Some historical facts are re-worked for dramatic effect and the production values are suitably overblown. The show is being screened for the third time. It was earlier broadcast by the Hum Sitaray channel in 2015 and has been available on Netflix since 2019 but for the first time has appeared on public television. It was aired in approximately 146 countries and has been dubbed in more than 60 languages.


The protagonist Ertugrul is played by the talented Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan. His charisma, wisdom, strong leadership skills, excellent swordsmanship and vision have stuck audiences to their TV screens. The female characters are equally strong and skilled as their male counterparts, possessing a strong work ethic. Women like Hayme Hatun, Aykiz, Halima Hatun and Selcan are strong pillars of support who fight alongside men. These women give valuable advice regarding matters of business and commerce within the tribe. An important character Ibn Arabi plays the Andalusian mystic and serves as Ertugrul’s spiritual teacher and guide. The drama has a talented cast which portrays Ertugrul’s family, friends and tribesmen.

Also, the visually aesthetic production has audiences drawing similarities between Dirilis Ertugrul and Game of Thrones. The production scale is grand as we see horses galloping across beautiful landscapes and violent sword-fighting scenes that transport the viewer into another world, just like in a Hollywood film. A famous Hollywood stunt team named Nomad was specially hired as consultants for the action sequences, to make them more credible and exciting. In addition, the beautifully dramatic soundtrack serves well to highlight the acting and gripping storylines.

One of the many reasons for the success of the show is its powerful portrayal of perseverance in the face of adversity and a unique appreciation for Muslim culture and faith. There is juxtaposition between spirituality and social customs and the show pays great emphasis to the importance of humanity and grace during times of war and difficulty. What makes the show so powerful and riveting is its fresh take on the oft-ignored Muslim perspective during the Crusades. Maybe that’s why Dirilis Ertugrul is not just making waves in the Muslim world but in Europe and America as well.

Overall, Dirilis Ertugrul is what the audience needs most when they are in lockdown. It is a story of courage, bravery and sacrifice for one’s beliefs. Filled with action and drama, it teaches viewers the significance of unity and commitment to serve a greater good. For those who haven’t watched it yet, do it now for it also warns you about the pitfalls of greed and lust for power which can corrupt not only a leader but also brings about the decline of a people.

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