Family Secrets (2021)
Family Secrets is a Turkish family, drama, crime series broadcast on Kanal D, first aired in 2021. Lawyer Ceylin and prosecutor Ilgaz cross paths during a murder investigation in which Ilgaz’s brother Çınar is accused. As they try to solve the case, they uncover complex secrets reaching into both families.
Family Secrets cast: Kaan Urgancıoğlu (Ilgaz Kaya), Pınar Deniz (Ceylin Erguvan), Uğur Polat (Yekta Tilmen), Zeyno Eracar (Gül Erguvan), Uğur Aslan (Eren Duman), Arda Anarat (Çınar Kaya).
Detailed content was compiled from sources with AI; pending editorial review. Editor: Uğur Arı.
Plot
Fearless lawyer Ceylin Ergüvan and prosecutor Ilgaz Kaya, known for his strict commitment to professional ethics, are brought together by a murder investigation. When Ilgaz’s brother Çınar becomes a suspect, Ilgaz is forced to question his principles and seek Ceylin’s help. As they work to clear Çınar’s name, the investigation exposes hidden truths and long-buried tensions connecting both families.
Origins of the story
Adaptation status
No source novel, book, film, series, play, memoir or historical work has been identified in the official production and broadcaster sources reviewed. The series is therefore recorded as an original production, not as a confirmed adaptation.
Connection to reality
Screenwriter Sema Ergenekon has said that the series draws on her own experiences and on life and events she observes around her. She has also stated that several real stories were combined with fictional events. These comments do not identify the series as a direct account of a specific case or real person.
Inspirations and influences
Sema Ergenekon’s own experiences and observed life
Confirmed by a creator or official sourceAccording to Sema Ergenekon, the series’ primary sources of inspiration include her own experiences and events she observes around her; this material was altered and transformed for the screenplay.
Confirmed by creator — Sema Ergenekon
Limit of the evidence: The statement does not identify a specific real person, case or event.
Combining several real stories with fictional events
Confirmed by a creator or official sourceSema Ergenekon has stated that several real stories were combined with fictional events in the series.
Confirmed by creator — Sema Ergenekon
Limit of the evidence: The real stories are not identified, so no specific person or case can be linked.
Iconic filming locations
The story setting and the real filming site are identified separately.
İstanbul Adalet Sarayı (Çağlayan Courthouse)
Çağlayan, Şişli · İstanbul · Türkiye
- Use in filming
- Courthouse, chief prosecutor’s office and courtroom scenes
- Place represented in the story
- Not explicitly stated in the sources
- Scenes and context
- Reported as the real courthouse used for the series’ courthouse scenes.
İstanbul İl Millî Eğitim Müdürlüğü — Former Courthouse Building
Sultanahmet, Fatih · İstanbul · Türkiye
- Use in filming
- Courthouse scenes where Ilgaz works
- Place represented in the story
- Used as the Courthouse
- Scenes and context
- The real building houses the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education; the source states that filming takes place on weekends.
Office of a fuel company in Sancaktepe
Sancaktepe · İstanbul · Türkiye
- Use in filming
- District police headquarters scenes
- Place represented in the story
- Used as the District Police Directorate
- Scenes and context
- The building’s real function is a fuel company office; it was decorated as a police headquarters for the series.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia · Nevşehir · Türkiye
- Use in filming
- Selected scenes; Cappadocia filming
- Place represented in the story
- Not explicitly stated in the sources
- Scenes and context
- The source reports that one episode was filmed in Cappadocia before the crew returned to the Istanbul set.
Location details were compiled from sources with AI assistance and are pending editorial review.
Trailer
Details
- Year
- 2021–2024
- Channel
- Kanal D
- Genre
- family, drama, crime
- Seasons
- 3
- Episodes
- 95
- Rating
- 8.7
Cast
Character Map
Hero
- ↳ Ilgaz Kaya — ally
- ↳ Çınar Kaya — ally
- ↳ Gül Ergüvan — relative
- ↳ Aylin Ergüvan Yılmaz — relative
- ↳ Zafer Ergüvan — relative
- ↳ Çınar Kaya — sibling
Anti-hero
- ↳ Engin Tilmen — parent
Antagonist
Supporting
Character
What's in this series?
Building the legal and crime-drama framework
The series was produced by Ay Yapım, with Kerem Çatay as producer, Ali Bilgin as director and Sema Ergenekon as screenwriter. In an interview, Ergenekon and Bilgin explained that the project developed from an idea for a legal drama during the pandemic. Ergenekon also described consultations with legal professionals and visits to courthouses and prosecutor’s offices during preparation.
Between realism and fiction
Sema Ergenekon has said that the writing draws on life, personal experiences and events she observes, while transforming this material for fiction. Yargı is therefore best described not as a biographical account of a particular case or person, but as a legal and crime drama shaped by observations from real life.
International title
The series is presented in international distribution under the title Family Secrets. The canonical Turkish title is Yargı; the English title is marked as an official international title because it is confirmed by an international distribution source.
Frequently asked questions
How many episodes is Family Secrets?
Family Secrets has 95 episodes across 3 seasons.
When did Family Secrets air?
Family Secrets first aired in 2021 on Kanal D.
Who is in the cast of Family Secrets?
The main cast includes Kaan Urgancıoğlu (Ilgaz Kaya), Pınar Deniz (Ceylin Erguvan), Uğur Polat (Yekta Tilmen), Zeyno Eracar (Gül Erguvan), Uğur Aslan (Eren Duman), Arda Anarat (Çınar Kaya).
Sources
- Yargı — Hikâye ve Künye — Kanal D / Euro D
- Yargı Oyuncuları — Kanal D
- Yargı 1. Bölüm — Yargı / Kanal D
- Röportaj: Sema Ergenekon & Ali Bilgin — Episode
- Yargı’nın Senaristi Sema Ergenekon ile Söyleştik — Episode
- Mi inspiración es la vida misma: Guionista de Yargi revela cómo creó la exitosa teleserie de Mega — Mega
- MADD Entertainment — Family Secrets — MADD Entertainment
- Yargı’nın Savcı Pars’ı Mehmet Yılmaz Ak’tan açıklamalar — Kanal D
