Author Vedat Türkali dies

YALOVA

AA photo

One of the masters of Turkish literature, author Vedat Türkali, died on Aug. 29 at the Yalova State Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for multiple organ failure since Aug. 27. He was 97. 

Türkali’s doctor, Özgür Akın Oto, said, “He had a bladder infection and renal failure. He died because of multiple organ failure.” 

Türkali, whose real name was Abdülkadir Pirhasan, was born in the northern province of Samsun on May 13, 1919. After graduating from Istanbul University’s Department of Turkology, he served as a literature teacher but was arrested in 1951 after being accused of conducting political activities. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and was paroled seven years later.

He embarked on working in cinema in 1958 after his release from prison. He wrote over 40 screenplays and directed three films. He wrote his screenplays under the pen name Vedat Türkali. 

His works, which appealed to an extensive audience, had an effectual role in the establishment and development of early Turkish cinema. 

Türkali won many national and international awards with his plays, screenplays and novels. The year from May 1, 2004 to May 1, 2005 was declared the “Year of Vedat Türkali” with the support of intellectuals, artists, cultural and artistic institutions and human rights activists. Celebrated with diverse activities, the one-year period was the first devoted to a living intellectual.