DIZI TOP: Discover the Captivating World of the Psychiatrist Dr. Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu – 9 Turkish Drama Series Based on True Life Stories

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Istanbullu Gelin / Bride of Istanbul (2017)

Istanbullu Gelin / Bride of Istanbul (2017) is a Turkish TV drama series adapted from a book by Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu called “Hayata Dön,” which consist of a true story based on real-life events starring Aslı Enver and Özcan Deniz. Created by O3 Medya, the drama series ran for 87 episodes on Star TV.

The Turkish drama series Istanbullu Gelin / Bride of Istanbul (2017) tells the dramatic real-life love story between Süreyya, a financially strapped singer who falls in love with Faruk, a charismatic businessman who gets married despite his family’s opposition. The action of “Istanbullu Gelin” is set in Bursa, Turkey, following Süreyya, a beautiful and proud young girl who lives with her only surviving relative, her aunt Senem, and dreams of becoming a famous singer. Everything changes when she meets Faruk, the eldest son of the prominent Boran family, which has deep roots in Bursa and the transportation industry. The meeting between Süreyya and Faruk leads to a dramatic love story.

Faruk is a wealthy and charismatic businessman, who is close to his family and traditions, despite his modern appearance. Süreyya’s mother-in-law, Esma, is a controlling matriarch who wants to be the sole judge of everyone who comes under the roof of the Boran mansion. Her sister-in-law, İpek, is a cunning and ambitious woman who was supposed to marry Faruk and now literally dies of jealousy. Faruk’s siblings, Fikret, Osman, and Murat, each have their own troubles and add to the complications. As the events unfold, many family secrets come to light, and the Boran mansion, which has stood for almost four hundred years, is shaken to its foundations.

Doğduğun Ev Kaderindir / My Home My Destiny (2019)

Doğduğun Ev Kaderindir / My Home My Destiny (2019) is Turkish drama series based on a true story and adapted from the novel Camdaki Kız written by the Turkish psychiatrist Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu, starring Demet Özdemir, İbrahim Çelikkol, and Engin Öztürk. Produced by OGM Picture for TV8, the Turkish dizi series ran for 2 seasons from September 2020 to May 2021, ending with its 43rd episode.

The Turkish drama series Doğduğun Ev Kaderindir / My Home My Destiny (2019) follows the love story of Zeynep, a young girl who comes from a poor family but is raised by a wealthy one for a better education. Zeynep is torn between her foster family and biological family. Zeynep struggles to keep her biological family a secret, including her mother Sakine, who works as a cleaner in the house where Zeynep lives.

Her situation gets complicated when she gets engaged to a wealthy man, Faruk while struggling with the guilt of hiding the truth about her true parents. When Sakine learns of the engagement, she takes action to get her daughter back and pursues her to go and a blind date with a man from their neighborhood, Mehdi, who is looking for a girl to marry. As Zeynep’s feelings grow for Mehdi, she decides to marry him. Soon, the feelings of belonging, jealousy, and protection of the couple, who are very in love with each other, will turn into a sick love – an unhealthy mix of passion, mobbing and emotional pressure. It’s impossible not to happen to a couple who love each other so passionately.

Masumlar Apartmanı / The Innocents (2020)

Masumlar Apartmanı / Innocents Apartment (2020) is a psychological and drama Turkish TV series, a true story adapted from a section of the book “Madalyonun İçi,” written by Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu, starring Ezgi Mola, Farah Zeynep Abdullah, Birkan Sokullu, Merve Dizdar, Melisa Şenolsun, and Aslıhan Gürbüz. Produced by OGM Pictures, the series ran for 71 episodes on TRT1.

The Turkish drama series Masumlar Apartmanı (2020) delves deep into the complex psychological state of four siblings – Safiye, Han, Gülben, and Neriman – who grew up in a dysfunctional family in Istanbul. The story highlights how their mother’s behavior, including emotional abuse and control, has significantly impacted the siblings’ mental and emotional well-being.

Gülben and Safiye are two siblings with obsessive-compulsive disorder, especially about cleanliness. Both sisters are under the influence of the expectations of their deceased mother, unhappy and struggling own identities, and their psychological issues steam from being the perfect daughters. Love will find Gülben and Safiye, triggering their mental issues and causing them to spiral out of control.

Han, the only brother, is loyal to his family and is protective of them. His life changes after meeting İnci, a radio broadcaster, and falling in love with her. Han has various behavioral disorders, including hoarding and anger management issues, which become more evident in his possessive and sexist behavior towards İnci. Neriman, the youngest brother in the family, is also struggling with emotional problems due to the family’s dynamics.

The series’ portrayal of the sibling’s struggles with mental health and their relationships with others serves as a powerful reminder of the long-term impacts of childhood trauma and abuse. Through their journey, Masumlar Apartmanı highlights the importance of seeking help and support to heal from the emotional wounds of the past.

Kırmızı Oda / Red Room (2020)

Kırmızı Oda / Red Room (2020) is a psychological drama Turkish series, a true story adapted from the 2004 book Madalyonun İçi written by the psychiatrist Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu, starring Binnur Kaya. Produced by OGM Pictures for TV8, the drama series consists of 61 episodes. Although the cast of Kırmızı Oda / Red Room (2020) changes every episode, Binnur Kaya is the only leading actor in all episodes.

Kırmızı Oda / Red Room (2020) is a gripping and thought-provoking psychological drama series that centers around the lives of psychiatrists and patients who regularly come to a psychiatry clinic in Istanbul. The drama series follows a psychiatrist, Doctor Manolya Hanım (Binnur Kaya portrays the real Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu), living in Istanbul and her employees at the Manolya Psychiatry Clinic and their patients.

Each episode features a different set of patients with unique and complex personal stories that highlight the painful, joyful, happy, and sad moments of their lives. The stories touch on different themes of trauma, grief, personality disorders, and mental health, making the show an emotional rollercoaster for its viewers.

The  Turkish series Kırmızı Oda has been praised for its authentic portrayal of mental health issues and for highlighting the importance of seeking help when dealing with emotional struggles. The storylines in Kırmızı Oda / Red Room (2020) are inspired by real-life stories, making the drama series relatable and thought-provoking for the audience.

Camdaki Kız / The Girl in the Glass (2021)

Camdaki Kiz / The Girl in the Glass (2021) is a psychological and drama Turkish series based on a true and tragic love story inspired by Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu’s novel of the same name, starring Burcu Biricik, Cihangir Ceyhan, and Feyyaz Şerifoğlu. Produced by OGM Pictures, the series consists of 3 seasons, and still running, currently on its 68th episode.

The psychological drama Camdaki Kiz / The Girl in the Glass (2021) explores the story and the emotional turmoil of Nalan Yilmaz, a girl raised in luxury and later married into a wealthy family who ends up in a psychiatric clinic by force. Despite the abundance surrounding her, Nalan never experiences genuine love or affection.

Her mother, Feride, is a controlling and obsessive woman who micromanages every aspect of Nalan’s life. Feride’s strict and absurd rules steam from her own traumatic history. Nalan is actually her granddaughter, and her mother, Sema, died giving birth to her. Feride has never forgiven Nalan for “killing” her own daughter and has raised her with the belief that the only way to honor her daughter’s memory is to control Nalan’s every move. She meets and marries Sedat Koroğlu, but the marriage is loveless.

Nalan finds solace in her relationship with her driver, Hayri, and they embark on a passionate and secret love affair that lasts for seven years. However, when Hayri tells Nalan about the existence of another woman in his life, her fragile emotional state collapses. She spirals into a deep depression and begins having suicidal thoughts.

A real tragic love story that ends with Nalan locked up in a mental hospital against her will and telling her story to the psychiatrist Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu. The Turkish psychological drama series Camdaki Kiz / The Girl in the Glass (2021) is a powerful portrayal of the human condition and how it can be shaped by external forces beyond our control.

Yalı Çapkını / KingFisher (2022)

Yalı Çapkını / KingFisher (2022) is a Turkish romantic drama series based on a true story about Antep’s most influential family and adapted from the work of Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu, starring Afra Saracoğlu and Mert Ramazan Demir. Produced by OGM Pictures for Star TV, the drama series premiered on Friday, September 23, and is currently running.

Currently, the Turkish series Yalı Çapkını ranks as the most-watched dizi drama on Friday evenings.

The Turkish drama series Yalı Çapkını (2022) follows the events after the patriarch of the Korhan family, Halis Ağa, decides to get his irresponsible grandson Ferit. Finding the ideal bride is the task of Halis Ağa’s eldest bride, İfakat. She selects Suna, a young and well-educated girl from an important tribe of Antep, to be Ferit’s bride. The surprise at the engagement ceremony for the chosen bride, Suna, affects both her and her sister Seyran, who Ferit decides to marry.

Seyran goes against her father’s wish to marry Ferit, but eventually, she has to accept the elders’ decision because there is no other way for her. A terrible shock comes on the wedding night when Ferit shows his true face. This night marks the beginning of a series of tumultuous events that will change everything in Seyran and Ferit’s lives, and nothing will ever be the same again in Korhan Family.

Çöp Adam / Stick Man (2022)

Çöp Adam / Stick Man (2022) is a Turkish romantic drama series based on a real-life story written by the famous psychiatrist, Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu, starring Engin Altan Düzyatan and Elçin Sangu. Produced by OGM Pictures for Star TV, the dizi drama premiered on Wednesday, 20 November 2022. All 7 episodes of the Turkish dizi drama series Çöp Adam (2022) surpassed over 1 million views on Youtube.

The Turkish romantic drama series Çöp Adam / Stick Man (2022) follows the complicated love story between Tamer, a successful software developer, and Peri, a bank manager. Tamer becomes obsessed with Peri, whom he kidnaps and locks up in a cellar to save her from suicide. Tamer creates a whole new world for Peri inside the cellar, where she gradually develops Stockholm syndrome and starts to have feelings for her captor.

The series portrays the challenges and obstacles that Tamer and Peri face in their unconventional love story. Tamer is also married to Berrin, and they have a daughter, complicating the situation much further. As the story unfolds, viewers will see the psychological and emotional depths of the two main characters and the childhood traumas that have shaped them.

The Stickman tattoo on Tamer’s wrist is a significant aspect of the series, and the story behind it, will gradually be revealed throughout the episodes. The series Çöp Adam (2022) is full of surprises and riddles that keep viewers on their seat edge. Ultimately, the question remains: will Tamer’s obsessive love for Peri turn into an emotional bond, and will they survive the challenges that come their way?

Terzi / The Tailor (2023)

Terzi / The Tailor (2023) is an upcoming Turkish drama series created for Netflix and based on a true story by Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu, starring Çağatay Ulusoy and Şifanur Gül. Produced by OGM Pictures, the series will premiere this year.

The Netflix Turkish series Terzi / The Tailor (2023) revolves around a tailor who falls in love with a client for whom he sews a wedding dress. But that’s not the only challenge he faces. When his grandfather passes away, he takes responsibility for his father, whom he is always ashamed of, and brings him to Istanbul. His father, portrayed by Olgun Şimşek, has the spirit and intelligence of a child. Çağatay’s character hires a babysitter for his father to make things easier.

The Terzi series will explore the complex relationship between a father and a son; As they navigate through life’s challenges and learn to understand and accept each other.

Kral Kaybederse / If the King Loses

Kral Kaybederse / If the King Loses (unknown) is a Turkish phycological drama series, a true story based on the book of the same name written by Gülseren Budaıcıoğlu in 2015, which focuses on narcissistic personality disorder, possibly starring Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ.

The upcoming drama series Kral Kaybederse follows the story of a hunter who believes he is invincible and above all others, only to fall prey to his own weaknesses. The protagonist’s past experiences, particularly his childhood, greatly affect his present actions and decisions. Despite being a king in the eyes of many women, he experiences heartbreak and loss, causing him to crumble from his throne. The series also focuses on the story of an unhappy woman who becomes a hunter in her own tragic life after convincing herself that she is unlovable.

Psychiatrist Dr. Gülseren Budayioğlu explores the complex psychological and emotional depths of these two characters in her novel, which the drama series aims to bring to life on screen.