Pakistani teens replicate Turkish TV series' set

By Muhammet Nazim Tasci and Muhammed Semih Ugurlu

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Influenced by Resurrection: Ertugrul, a popular Turkish TV series, 150 young people in northern Pakistan replicated the series' set and started to shoot the show with their interpretation and limited means.

In the Swat district of Pakistan, a group of teenagers aged 15-26 is planning to share the series they shoot after the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr on Youtube, with a new name -- Pakistani Ertugrul.

Various items such as swords, axes, and jackets, which they started to produce after inspired by the series, are now for sale in a shop they opened in the city.

The income from the sales is used for costs of shooting the TV show, while they have also received orders from India and Afghanistan.

Muhammed Abbas, a high school student who plays the role of Ertugrul Gazi, said the drama impressed them and so they decided to shoot their own show.

They started making jackets, swords, and axes after watching the series, Abbas said, adding that they then shot some short scenes and got even more enthusiastic and eventually decided to shoot the series.

"We cover all costs ourselves. Most of us are students. We don't have enough money. Not many people make money among us. We don't have sponsors. It would be great if we find a sponsor," he said.

Abbas also said they got a chance to be in contact with Turkish people, and that Celal Al, the Turkish actor playing Abdurrahman Gazi in the series, had also met the young Pakistani actors.

They had a self-learning process in using the camera, as well as writing the scenario and directing, Abbas added.

"This series shows us our own past and glorious history. It gives us hope that if we follow the path of our ancestors we can revive," he said.