Bir Zamanlar Cukurova

Watch Bir Zamanlar Cukurova (Once Upon a Time in Cukurova) with English Subtitles Online

Bir Zamanlar Çukurova: Love, Ambition, and Secrets in the Fields of Adana

Bir Zamanlar Çukurova (“Bitter Lands”) premiered in 2018 on ATV and ran for four gripping seasons, capturing audiences with its sweeping period drama, intense love triangles, and power struggles. Produced by TIMS&B Productions and directed by Murat Saraçoğlu, the series takes place in the fertile lands of Adana during the 1970s, where passion and ambition are as rich as the soil.

Züleyha and Yılmaz are lovers trying to escape a cruel world. Fleeing from Istanbul after a tragic incident, they arrive in Çukurova posing as siblings to stay under the radar. Züleyha ends up marrying Demir, a wealthy landowner who falls for her without knowing the truth. As Yılmaz becomes a powerful man in his own right, the love triangle intensifies, fueled by lies, jealousy, and pride. Over the years, new characters and generations emerge, carrying the legacy of love, betrayal, and revenge.

Main Characters

• Züleyha – Played by Hilal Altınbilek, Züleyha is graceful, resilient, and torn between love and survival. Hilal’s nuanced portrayal brings quiet strength and emotional depth to the role.
• Yılmaz – Portrayed by Uğur Güneş, Yılmaz is driven by love and justice. His journey from fugitive to powerful figure is one of the emotional cores of the early seasons.

Themes

Bir Zamanlar Çukurova explores forbidden love, social class divides, power, and the cost of ambition. It’s a rich tapestry of emotional dilemmas, set against a nostalgic backdrop of rural Turkey.