WHEN my dear friend Dr. Khalil Toker asked this question, “Farooq Bhai, shall we watch a film?”, I was taken aback.

Those who know him understand that Dr. Toker is a serious scholar and writer — so much so that even fiction has to strive to capture his attention. Against this background, his invitation to a movie was surprising indeed. This happened last week when, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement, “Turkiye Week” was being celebrated across Pakistan.

The month of October holds great significance in Turkiye’s national history. During World War I, the imperial powers dismantled the Ottoman Empire and occupied Istanbul, threatening Turkiye’s independence. Under Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s leadership, the national army fought courageously, defeating colonial forces. The 1915 Battle of Canakkale (Gallipoli) dealt a decisive blow to the Allies and on 29 October 1923, Ataturk declared Ankara the capital of the newly founded Republic of Turkiye. This day is celebrated by our Turkish brothers with pride and grandeur. It was against this historic backdrop that Dr. Khalil Toker invited me to watch a film.

The film The Last Letter — a moving story of courage and love centred on Salih, a brave pilot of the Ottoman Air Force — left a deep impression on me. Having spent considerable time in Turkiye, I often visited Istanbul’s lively İstiklal Avenue, always teeming with tourists and cultural vibrancy. Amid its bustling streets, Turkish film posters stood........

© Pakistan Observer