Varka and Gülşah is Becoming a Documentary Film
The 11th-century love story Varka and Gülşah, considered even more intriguing than Layla and Majnun, is now coming to life for the first time as a film, claiming its rightful place in world history.
Produced by the renowned filmmaker Fehmi Gerçeker, who has previously introduced masterpieces such as the 13th-century Mevlana and the 16th-century Piri Reis to global audiences through his acclaimed documentaries, the Varka and Gülşah Documentary Film will be distributed to television networks worldwide.
This unique story, written by Sheikh Ayyuki in the 11th century and illustrated with exquisite miniatures in the 13th century, has long remained hidden in the dusty pages of history. Now, these priceless miniatures and this unparalleled tale will be presented to global audiences with a poetic cinematic narrative, preserving their original beauty.
In the documentary, the dramatic verses of the story will be brought to life by celebrated theater actors. Accompanied by an original score composed exclusively for the film, Varka and Gülşah promises to take viewers on an unforgettable visual journey.
The only surviving manuscript of Varka and Gülşah, adorned with its miniatures, is housed in the Topkapı Palace Museum. With special permission, Nörofilm Productions has obtained copies of this invaluable manuscript and has commenced work on bringing this magnificent story and its priceless miniatures to the screen.
Filming and studio production are currently taking place in Istanbul and London, with multilingual versions being prepared for international audiences. The world premiere of the film is scheduled for September.