Cahide Sonku

Cahide Sonku (born Cahide Serap; 27 December 1912 – 18 March 1981) was a Turkish actress, model, writer and the first female film director in Turkey. Sonku was the founder of her own movie production company, Sonku Film, in 1950. She was thrice married and divorced.

Life

Sonku' first theater and cinema experience was during her secondary school education. She was accepted into Darülbedayi when she was only 16 years old, and in time she took her place among the most popular actors of Istanbul City Theatres. She started acting with "Seven Village Zeynebi" first at the People's Houses Theater, then at the Istanbul Municipality Conservatory, and then at Darülbedayi (1932-City Theaters), discovered by Muhsin Ertuğrul who was an important figure in Sonku's career.

Sonku founded the production company "Sonku Film" in 1950 and however went bankrupt in 1963 due to a fire that burned down the company building. She continued working at the City Theater through Muhsin Ertuğrul's influence, then left and struggled with alcohol addiction in the last years of her life.

Sonku received the Turkish Film Critics Association service award in 1979 and died in 1981 at the Alkazar Cinema in Istanbul, at the age of 61. She was buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. Cahide Sonku Prize is awarded in her memory at the annual Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.

Cultural depictions In 1989, the series Cahide is based from life of Cahide Sonku. It starring Hale Soygazi as Cahide. In 2013, the short film "Kayıkçı" starring Merih Fırat as Cahide. In 2014, the short film "100-5=Cahide" starring Farah Zeynep Abdullah as Cahide. In 2016, the short film "Cahide" starring İpek Bilgin as Cahide.

Filmography

YearFilmDutyNotesActorDirectorProducerRole 1933 Söz Bir Allah Bir 1934 Bataklı Damın Kızı Aysel Aysel 1940 Şehvet Kurbanı 1940 Akasya Palas 1942 Kıskanç 1945 Yayla Kartalı Nermin 1946 Senede Bir Gün Nazlı1946 Kızılırmak Karakoyun 1947 Yuvamı Yıkamazsın 1949 Fedakar Ana 1951 Vatan ve Namık KemalCo-directed with Talat Artemel and Sami Ayanoğlu. 1952 Günahını Ödeyen Adam 1953 Beklenen Şarkı 1955 İlk ve Son 1956 Büyük Sır 1962 Ayşecik Yavru Melek 1965 Yahya Peygamber 1965 Korkusuzlar 1965 Düşman Kardeşler 1965 Beyaz Atlı Adam 1965 Sevgim ve Gururum 1966 Sevda Çiçeğim 1966 Kovboy Ali 1966 El Kızı 1966 Çalıkuşu 1966 At Avrat Silah 1966 Sokak Kızı 1967Serseriler Kralı 1967 Bizansı Titreten Yiğit 1971 Mıstık