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Çalıkuşu Turkish TV series scene
Çalıkuşu (1986) Turkish TV series poster

Çalıkuşu (1986)

Ended7 episodesChannel: TRT 1, tabiiTMDB, checked 31 October
familydramaTRT 1, tabii

Çalıkuşu is a Turkish family, drama series broadcast on TRT 1, tabii, first aired in 1986. Adapted from Reşat Nuri Güntekin’s novel, this seven-episode 1986 series follows Feride, who leaves home after learning that her fiancé Kamran has been involved with another woman and becomes a teacher in rural Anatolia. Looking for something similar? See the criteria-based guide Short Turkish series: completed shows with 30 episodes or fewer.

Çalıkuşu cast: Aydan Şener (Feride), Kenan Kalav (Kamran), Sadri Alışık (Miralay Hayrullah Bey), Mine Çayıroğlu (Munise), Eşref Kolçak (Şeyh Yusuf Efendi), Hayati Hamzaoğlu (Binbaşı Nizamettin Bey).

Editor: Uğur Arı

Where to watch Çalıkuşu

We have no verified official viewing option for Çalıkuşu in United States yet.

No verified official viewing option found for this country yet.

Streaming availability data via TMDB / JustWatch — TMDB / JustWatch

How many episodes does Çalıkuşu have?

Çalıkuşu has 7 episodes in total across 1 season.

Plot

Feride loses her parents at a young age, grows up with her aunt, and receives a boarding-school education at a French school. Because of her lively and mischievous personality, her friends nickname her “The Wren.” As an adult, she plans to marry her aunt’s son Kamran, but learns before the wedding that he has been involved with another woman. Hurt and proud, Feride leaves home and tries to build an independent life as a teacher in different parts of Anatolia. During her assignments, she faces gossip about her beauty and independent life, difficult working conditions, and the limitations of the communities in which she serves. She protects a young girl named Munise, while the attention of Şeyh Yusuf Efendi and the rumors surrounding it force her to request another transfer. Feride later meets Hayrullah Bey and marries him to reduce social pressure; the relationship is presented as protective and paternal rather than romantic. Hayrullah Bey realizes from Feride’s diary that she still loves Kamran and tries to bring them together. The series concludes with the resolution of Feride and Kamran’s relationship and Feride’s struggle to live on her own terms.

Origins of the story

Adaptation status

The series is an official television adaptation of Reşat Nuri Güntekin’s novel Çalıkuşu, adapted by Osman F. Seden. Academic research describes the 1986 version as more detailed than the 1966 film adaptation in its treatment of the novel’s events.

Connection to reality

The series is a fictional adaptation that places questions of women’s education, teaching, provincial life, social reputation, and gossip within a historical social setting. No reliable direct evidence was found that Feride or the other characters were based on specific real people.

Official video

Details

Year
1986
Channel
TRT 1, tabii
Genre
family, drama
Seasons
1
Episodes
7
Rating
9.3

Cast

Sadri Alışık as Miralay Hayrullah Bey in Çalıkuşu
Miralay Hayrullah Bey
Eşref Kolçak as Şeyh Yusuf Efendi in Çalıkuşu
Şeyh Yusuf Efendi
Hayati Hamzaoğlu as Binbaşı Nizamettin Bey in Çalıkuşu
Binbaşı Nizamettin Bey
Kaya Akarsu as Yüzbaşı İhsan in Çalıkuşu
Yüzbaşı İhsan
Savaş Başar as Bursa Maarif Müdürü in Çalıkuşu
Bursa Maarif Müdürü
Cengiz Sezici as Burhanettin Bey in Çalıkuşu
Burhanettin Bey
Sümer Tilmaç as Feridun Bey in Çalıkuşu
Sümer Tilmaç
Feridun Bey
Yalçın Avşar as Vehbi in Çalıkuşu
Yalçın Avşar
Vehbi
Ali Şen as Recep Efendi in Çalıkuşu
Recep Efendi
Diler Saraç as Ayşe Teyze in Çalıkuşu
Diler Saraç
Ayşe Teyze
Nil Burak as Neriman Hanım in Çalıkuşu
Nil Burak
Neriman Hanım

Character Map

● Hero● Anti-hero● Villain● Supporting● Character
partnerspousefriendrivalrelativepartnerparentFerideAydan ŞenerKamranKenan KalavHayrullah BeySadri AlışıkMuniseMine ÇayıroğluNerimanNil BurakŞeyh Yusuf EfendiEşref KolçakBesime HanımTomris OğuzalpBinbaşı Nizamettin BeyHayati HamzaoğluSister AleksiSuna SelenMişelRozet HubeşMüjganSeray Gözler

Hero

Feride
Aydan Şener
  • ↳ Besime Hanım — relative
Show spoiler (4)
  • ↳ Kamran — partner
  • ↳ Hayrullah Bey — spouse
  • ↳ Munise — friend
  • ↳ Şeyh Yusuf Efendi — rival
Kamran
Kenan Kalav
  • ↳ Besime Hanım — parent
Show spoiler (1)
  • ↳ Neriman — partner

Antagonist

Neriman
Nil Burak

Supporting

Hayrullah Bey
Sadri Alışık
Şeyh Yusuf Efendi
Eşref Kolçak
Besime Hanım
Tomris Oğuzalp
Binbaşı Nizamettin Bey
Hayati Hamzaoğlu
Sister Aleksi
Suna Selen
Mişel
Rozet Hubeş

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What's in this series?

A seven-episode television adaptation of the novel

The 1986 Çalıkuşu transforms Reşat Nuri Güntekin’s novel into a seven-episode television narrative. Academic studies describe this version as more detailed than the 1966 film adaptation in its treatment of the novel’s events, allowing Feride’s teaching assignments and the social pressures she faces in Anatolia to receive more screen time.

Teaching, the provinces, and women’s social position

Feride’s decision to leave Istanbul and teach in different Anatolian communities places an educated woman’s effort to work and build an independent life at the center of the story. The series connects this effort with difficult working conditions, local gossip, and the way women’s conduct is judged through social reputation.

Osman F. Seden’s second screen adaptation

Osman F. Seden had previously adapted Güntekin’s work for the cinema in 1966; in 1986 he revisited the same novel as a seven-episode television series for TRT. Aydan Şener and Kenan Kalav lead the cast, while Sadri Alışık plays Hayrullah Bey.

Circulation during and after the TRT era

Archival broadcasting records show that the series aired weekly on TRT in 1986. Secondary sources report that it was later shown in the Soviet Union and the Turkic republics, although this draft does not assign a precise quantitative measure to its audience impact.

Frequently asked questions

When did Çalıkuşu air?

Çalıkuşu (Çalıkuşu) first aired on 20 April 1986 on TRT 1, tabii.

Who is in the cast of Çalıkuşu?

The main cast of Çalıkuşu includes Aydan Şener (Feride), Kenan Kalav (Kamran), Sadri Alışık (Miralay Hayrullah Bey), Mine Çayıroğlu (Munise), Eşref Kolçak (Şeyh Yusuf Efendi), Hayati Hamzaoğlu (Binbaşı Nizamettin Bey).

Is Çalıkuşu based on a book or another series?

The series is an official television adaptation of Reşat Nuri Güntekin’s novel Çalıkuşu, adapted by Osman F. Seden. Academic research describes the 1986 version as more detailed than the 1966 film adaptation in its treatment of the novel’s events.

Is Çalıkuşu based on a true story?

The series is a fictional adaptation that places questions of women’s education, teaching, provincial life, social reputation, and gossip within a historical social setting. No reliable direct evidence was found that Feride or the other characters were based on specific real people.

Sources