Yabancı Damat

Infobox Television Film
bgcolour =
name = Yabancı Damat


caption =
format = Comedy-drama
runtime = 50 min each episode
creator =
director = Durul Taylan
Yağmur Taylan
producer = Türker İnanoğlu
writer = Sulhi Dolek
Selin Tunç
starring = Nehir Erdogan
Özgür Çevik
Erdal Özyağcılar
music = Gökhan Kırdar
country = TUR
language = Turkish / Greek / English
network = Kanal D
released =
first_aired = November 12 2004
last_aired = June 15 2007
num_episodes = 106
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.yabancidamat.tv/en/anasayfa.asp
imdb_id = 0434735
tv_com_id =
amg_id =

"Yabancı Damat" (literally: "The Foreign Groom", Greek: "Τα σύνορα της αγάπης" "Ta sinora tis agapis", English translation of the Greek title: "The Borders of Love"), is a very popular Turkish TV series distributed by Erler Film with 106 episodes in total. It deals with the relationship between a young Greek man Niko and a Turkish girl Nazlı, and the problems (and especially the prejudices) encountered in an intercultural marriage. Its comedic tone and play on historic Greco-Turkish antagonism made it a huge hit in both Turkey and Greece, as well as making stars out of the leading actors. The episodes are shot in Turkey and Greece. The music is Turkish and Greek.

The series ran from November 12, 2004 through June 15 2007 on the Turkish TV channel Kanal D Friday evenings at 20.00 hrs. The Greek channel Mega TV broadcasts it since July 4, 2005. The first season was shown on a daily basis at 23.00 hrs, the second season was shown every Monday at 21:00. The third season was split, half of the episodes where shown Saturdays of 2007 at 21:00 and the other half episodes are shown on 2008, every Saturday at 17:00. The series used to have great success, especially when the first season was shown. The ratings of the third season are very low, so the channel decided to move the series in the evening schedule.

Plot

Nazlı is the daughter of a conservative Turkish father Kahraman, who is a famous baklava maker in Gaziantep. Her grandfather Memik Dede is a Korean War veteran. Niko, whose parents are immigrants from Istanbul, is the son of a wealthy Greek ship owner Stavro. Nazlı and Niko meet in Bodrum, fall in love at first sight and decide to marry. The comedy starts when Niko goes to Gaziantep to ask for her father’s agreement to the marriage. Historical enmity between the two nations makes it very hard, and both families oppose the marriage in the beginning. Finally, Nazlı and Niko found a family and settle in Istanbul. They meaningfully name their son Ege ("Aegean"), the sea between Turkey and Greece.

The families visit each other several times for various reasons and get so closer. Niko's spinster aunt Katina gets married with a Turkish man, much exacerbating her mother Efthalia. Even the initial hatred between the older members of the families, Memik Dede and Efthalia, turns to a romantic affair.

On the other hand, Kadir, the son of Ökkeş, who is the business partner of Kahraman, marries Stella, the Greek secretary of Niko.

Cast

The cast of the series is mostly experienced Turkish actors and actresses.

Family of Nazlı

* Nehir Erdoğan - Nazlı
* Erdal Özyağcılar - Kahraman, father of Nazlı, a famous baklava maker in Gaziantep
* Sumru Yavrucuk - Feride, mother of Nazlı
* Binnur Kaya - Nazire, elder sister of Nazlı
* İlker Aksum - Ruşen, husband of Nazire

Family of Niko

* Özgür Çevik - Niko (Nikos)
* Mazlum Kiper - Stavro (Stavros), father of Niko
* Ayla Karaca - Eleni, mother of Niko
* Tülin Oral - Eftelya (Euthalia), grandmother of Niko

Family of Kadir

* Engin Akyürek - Kadir, former lover of Nazlı
* Zeki Alasya - Ökkeş, father of Kadir, business partner of Kahraman
* Seray Gözler - Hayriye, mother of Kadir

Minor roles

* Yeliz Akkaya - Esra Bicaklama, Niko’s assistant
* Güzin Alkan - Döne, maid of Nazlı's family
* Natalia Doussopoulos - Anna, Niko’s girlfriend
* Binnaz Ergin - İkramiye
* Yılmaz Gruda - Celayir Usta, Ökkeş’s baklava master
* Ahmet Uz - Hikmet
* Şinasi Yurtsever - Hamit, husband of Döne

Locations

The episodes are shot in Bodrum, Gaziantep, Istanbul in Turkey and on the Greek Island of Symi and in Athens.

Awards

* 2006 "Best TV series of the Year" award by the Turkish Association of Radio and Television Journalists along with two other TV series.
* 2004: "Best Supporting Actress" award by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
* 2004: "Best Actor" (nominated) by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
*2004: "Best Actress" (nominated) by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
*2004: "Best Music" by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
*2004: "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" (nominated) by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards
*2004: "Best Director" by 1st Annual Primetime Beyaz Inci Awards

External links

* [http://www.yabancidamat.tv/en/anasayfa.asp Official Website]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434735/ Yabanci Damat at the Internet Movie Database]