A TURKISH ACTOR has for the first time in five years been awarded the world-known Cengiz Aytmatov award for his success in Turkish film ‘Selvi Boylum Al yazmalım’ by the House of Lords.
After renowned world-famous author Cengiz Aytmatov’s death in 2008, the Aytmatov Academy was turned into a charity organisation in March 2011 in England. Every year five people are given this award, this year the winners were from Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Greece and Sri Lanka. Cengiz Aytmatov’s work has been translated into almost 150 different languages and he is one of best-selling authors in the world. He is the writer of the book Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım in 1970, which the film is based on.
Filmed by Atıf Yılmaz, main characters were played by Kadir İnanır and actress Türkân Şoray. The unique soundtrack was composed by Cahit Berkay. The award ceremony hosted at the House of Lords in London, saw Kadir İnanır presented his award by Baroness Susan Cramer. He is the first Turkish actor to receive an award from the House of Lords, he was joined by friend and businessman Yılmaz Ulusoy and his wife Serap Ulusoy.
“THE BIGGEST AWARD IN MY 37 YEARS OF ACTING”
Kadir İnanır speaking at the award ceremony said: “I spoke with Cengiz Aytmatov, I sat with him on the same floor table and had dinner where we ate together. I visited the places he wrote about in his novels. I played the lead role in the film Selvi boylum Al yazmalım adapted from his book.. For the last 37 years this film has been viewed by people all over the world reaching millions.”
He added: “ As humanity continues this will become even more loved. Cengiz Aytmatov is the one who has allowed the film to grow and have it reach such successful heights. The film gives only one message, one that really touches a persons heart, makes you think and allow a persons conscience to grow, love means making effort. There are several best-selling and popular authors who write about people intwined with nature, love,efforts, conscience and how persons pride grows, but for me the greatest is Cengiz Aytmatov. Why? Because even if I read one of his books five years later or even 10 years later, my excitement will increase as I do so. Gaining an award in his name at such an amazing venue with such exceptional and highly important people is the greatest gift to me in 37 years of acting. I want to say special thank you to the organisers and those who have shared this evening with me.”