When I was a little girl my father and I used to spend Sunday afternoons watching one Turkish movie after another. We absolutely loved them but my mother never quite understood how I could like or even relate to these movies. My father and I have a huge generation gap. I was born in 1983 whereas he was born in 1934, that's 49 years. My mom who was born in 1952 couldn't even relate to these movies any longer.Now let me give you a little briefing about old Turkish movies. They are overly dramatic, have bad production quality and are typically based on some kind of melodramatic love story. They are similar to today's low budget Bollywood movies but with less color and coordinated dance routines.
We had two blue armed chairs in our living room. My father would sit in the one just across the TV balancing a plate of fruits on his belly while carefully pealing them. I would sit in the other chair leaning towards his side of room occasionally giving him petty glances for some fruits. This was our unspoken ritual.
Back then there really weren't many movie actors or actresses, a lot of them were musicians that also acted or actors/actresses that also sang. One of the infamous gifted singers of that time was Zeki Müren. Alongside his musical career he starred in eighteen films are wrote their musical scores. Epically famous for his gentlemanly ways and eloquent use of the Turkish language Zeki Müren's effeminate ways, ornate accessories and heavy make-up played a pioneer role in the acceptance of homosexuality in Turkey. Regardless of his controversial choice in sexuality, he remained as one of the most highly respected artists in Turkey throughout his career. Till this day, you will see eyes across generations well up as they listen to his poetic music. I am a living example.
As a little girl, watching Turkish cinema in my parents living room as my father's mini me I remember crying listening to this his song 'Gitme Sana Muhtacım'. Unaware of all the heartaches his songs represented his voice soothed me to an extent of joyful sorrow. Fast forward to 2012, I am now 29 years old. Zeki Müren's voice continues to mesmerize me; his poetic lyrics now hold deeper meanings and move me to different level.
I weep to his song just like I did 23 years ago as my father's mini me.
Zeki Müren you will forever remain far away from being a ''passive voice''.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsb-3WxYCt4) Click to listen.
