# Karadayı

Karadayı (English: The Uncle Kara) is a Turkish television drama series produced by Ay Yapım and broadcast on ATV. It was directed by the duo Uluç Bayraktar & Cem Karcı (who were previously associated with the direction of globally acclaimed Turkish series Ezel). It originally aired on 8 October 2012 in Turkey. It stars Kenan İmirzalıoğlu as Mahir Kara and Bergüzar Korel as Feride Şadoğlu.

## Concept of Karadayı

The word "Karadayı" is a combination of the series' protagonist Mahir Kara's hair colour / surname meaning 'black' and the Turkish word "dayı", which means "uncle" - specifically a mother's brother. Karadayı, meaning "Black uncle" is how Mahir's nephew, Nazif Tiryaki, addresses his uncle. The word also resembles the Turkish word "kabadayı", which means gangster. After the death of Mahir's nephew and his decision to become an insider amongst the mafia in order to avenge his nephew, he refers to himself as "Karadayı" and this becomes his nickname in the mafia world.

## Synopsis

Mahir fights for justice. He wants to get his father, Nazif Kara, out of jail. While he joins the court of Istanbul as a trainee lawyer to fight his father's case, fate finds him taking its own course. He stands at a crossroads where he must choose between Feride, the judge of his father's case, and his father.
This fascinating story unfolds as it takes you back to the magical Istanbul of the 1970s with all its charm and mysticality. The city of Istanbul is beautifully portrayed to depict the historical splendor of the place and its enchanting people.

## Episodes

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 36 | 36 | 8 October 2012 (2012-10-08) | 17 June 2013 (2013-06-17) |
| 2 | 39 | 39 | 9 September 2013 (2013-09-09) | 16 June 2014 (2014-06-16) |
| 3 | 40 | 40 | 15 September 2014 (2014-09-15) | 15 June 2015 (2015-06-15) |

## Critical appreciation

Oscar winner Hollywood star Russell Crowe, said that he is amazed by the Karadayı series. He said that he likes to follow it and that he's fallen in love with Bergüzar Korel. "She can do great things in Hollywood", he added.

## Cast

| Actor | Characters | About |
| Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Mahir Kara (Karadayı) | Nazif Kara's son from Kader Altun, who always valiantly struggles against injustice. Works as a fake trainee lawyer under the name Salih Ipek to rescue his father from being hanged. Falls in love with Feride and ends up marrying her. Father of Nazım Deniz. |
| Bergüzar Korel | Feride Şadoğlu | Judge at the Istanbul courthouse, who is in charge of Nazif Kara's case. Mehmet Saim and Kerime's daughter. Falls in love with Mahir without knowing that he's the son of Nazif Kara. Mother of Nazım Deniz. |
| Çetin Tekindor | Nazif Kara (Kibar) | Father of the Kara family, who has been framed and falsely convicted of murdering Chief Prosecutor Süleyman Yılmaz. He owns a shoe shop and wants Mahir and Orhan to stay away from the mafia world. |
| Yurdaer Okur | Turgut Akın (Yaver) | Prosecutor of the Istanbul courthouse, who is one of the heads of the smuggling mafia. He has a long time crush on Feride. Real murderer of Chief Prosecutor Süleyman Yılmaz. He was thought to be dead after Necdet strangled him, however he was rescued by Serdar and came back for revenge with a fake identity under the name Korkut Ölmez. Sentenced to death by the law and hanged. |
| Erkan Avcı | Necdet Güney (Barut) | Part of the smuggling mafia who owns the Yeditepe casino. Ayten's husband and Osman's older brother. Works for Turgut and Mehmet Saim. He used to be a part of Dalyan Rıza's gang, however he betrayed him and attacked the new market. Has a daughter from Süeda named Zeynep. Sentenced to lifetime imprisonment. |
| Melike İpek Yalova | Ayten Alev | Mahir's ex-fiancé. Necdet's wife. Singer of Turkish pop music. She raises Necdet's daughter Zeynep, while he is in prison. |
| Rıza Kocaoğlu | Yasin Ulutaş (Kibrit) | Mahir's friend, who is the commissioner of Istanbul's police. Falls in love with Songül. Ends up marrying Suna after Songül falls in love with Osman. |
| Atsız Karaduman | Dalyan Rıza | Nazif Kara's best friend, who is one of the heads of the Istanbul mafia. Killed by Turgut's men while trying to protect Orhan. |
| Erhan Yazıcıoğlu | Mehmet Saim Şadoğlu (Beyefendi) | Feride's father, who is a powerful minister. He secretly heads a smuggling mafia under the alias "Beyefendi" and wants Feride to stay away from Mahir. He kills Mahir's stepmother and nephew in order to prevent his marriage with Feride. Killed by Turgut. |
| Fatih Al | Sosyete Yusuf | Gentleman of high society who is one of the heads of the Istanbul mafia. He owns several nightclubs and works for Mehmet Saim. Has a crush on Ayten and establishes her as a famous singer in Turkey. Killed by Mehmet Saim. |
| Funda Eryiğit | Belgin Türe | Smart woman who is one of the heads of Istanbul mafia and owns a beauty salon. Falls In love with Mahir. Her face was severely injured after Murat threw acid in her face. She commits suicide in prison after being sentenced to death. |
| Uğur Aslan | İsmail Gün (Seyis) | Ranch owner and stableman who is one of the heads of the Istanbul mafia. Falls in love with İlknur and marries her, however they divorce after İlknur learns he played a role in his son's death. Has a daughter from İlknur named Safiye. Sentenced to prison. |
| Hüseyin Soyaslan | Kütük Nail | One of the heads of the Istanbul mafia who owns a wood shop. He smuggles liquor and sells it to Istanbul nightclubs. His fingers were cut by Mahir after he kidnapped his father. Killed by Sosyete Yusuf. |
| Sermet Yeşil | Sarı Cemal | One of the heads of the Istanbul mafia who owns a brothel. Killed by Seyit Durak at Sosyete Yusuf's order. |
| Civan Canova | Çetin Hünkaroğlu (Cağaloğlu) | One of the heads of the smuggling mafia and Mehmet Saim's partner. He owns the Yurttaş newspaper agency. Escapes from Turkey after being exposed to the police by Mehmet Saim. Leaves his son Sinan in charge to take his revenge. |
| Nihat Altınkaya | Sinan Koca | Cetin's son, who runs the Yurttaş newspaper agency. Part of the smuggling mafia. Wants to marry Feride in order to take revenge from Mehmet Saim. Killed by Necdet at Mehmet Saim's order. |
| Ulaş Tuna Astepe | Orhan Kara | Mahir's half brother. Nazif and Safiye's son. Sentenced to prison after shooting Yasin. He becomes Seyis's right-hand man after being released from prison. Later reconciles with Mahir and becomes his right-hand man. Falls in love with Zehra and ends up marrying her. |
| Leyla Lydia Tuğutlu | Songül Kara | Mahir's half sister. Nazif and Safiye's daughter. Studies law at the university. First falls in love with Yasin, but later falls in love with Osman and ends up marrying him. |
| Elif Sönmez | İlknur Kara | Mahir's step sister. Safiye's daughter from her first marriage. Mother of Nazif Tiryaki and Safiye Gün. She was formerly married to Bülent. She falls in love with İsmail and marries him, however they later divorce. Ends up marrying Erdal. |
| Şebnem Dilligil | Safiye Kara | Nazif Kara's wife. Mahir's stepmother and mother of İlknur, Orhan, and Songül. Killed by Seyit Durak at Mehmet Saim's order. |
| Ataberk Mutlu | Nazif Tiryaki | Mahir's nephew. Son of İlknur & Bülent. He loves his grandfather Nazif and wants to be brave like his Uncle Mahir. Killed by Seyit Durak at Mehmet Saim's order. |
| Deniz Şen Hamzaoğlu | Bülent Tiryaki | Father of little Nazif and İlknur's ex-husband. He later becomes a part of Mahir's gang. |
| Perihan Erener | Zehra (Nilay) | Yılan Berdan's girlfriend from his brothel. Falls in love with Orhan and ends up marrying him. |
| Cenan Çamyurdu | Erdal Engin | Lawyer of the Kara family, who ends up marrying İlknur. |
| Emir Çubukçu | Osman Güney | Necdet's brother, who falls in love with Songül and ends up marrying her. He first works as an apprentice in Nazif Kara's shoe shop and studies law at the university, but later becomes part of Mahir's gang and his close follower. He returns to the university and after finishing his studies, becomes a judge. |
| Lila Gürmen | Kerime Şadoğlu | Mehmet Saim's wife. Feride, Melih, and Cihan's mother. She is supportive of Feride's relationship with Mahir. She learns about Mehmet Saim's involvement in the murder of Safiye and little Nazif, but keeps silent to protect her illegitimate son's life. Killed by Mehmet Saim. |
| Olgun Toker | Melih Şadoğlu | Feride's brother. Mehmet Saim and Kerime's son. Journalist who works for the Yurttaş newspaper agency. He commits suicide after leaking Mahir and Feride's relationship under Turgut's blackmailing threats and causing Feride to lose Nazif Kara's case. |
| İlkin Tüfekçi | Bahar Dündar (Çitlembik) | Feride's secretary in the courthouse. Mahir & Feride's close friend. Killed by Seyit Durak at Turgut's order. |
| Aslı Orcan | Serra Aşık | Clerk in the Istanbul courthosuse, who has an extramarital affair with Turgut and then marries him. She was part of Turgut's plan in framing Nazif Kara for the murder of Chief Prosecutor Süleyman Yılmaz. Killed by Turgut Akın in a staged car accident. |
| Irem Kayhaoglu | Suna Demir | Feride's secretary at the Istanbul courthouse and her best friend. Initially worked as a secret agent for the Supreme Court and caused Feride to lose Nazif Kara's case, but later reconciled with her. Falls in love with Yasin and ends up marrying Yasin. |
| Reha Özcan | Vehbi Duru | Istanbul's police chief who has an extramarital affair with Belgin. Killed by Seyit Durak at Mehmet Saim's order. |
| Şafak Karali | Selim Durmazel | Head of the Internal Affairs police and Mehmet Saim's undersecretary. Appointed as Istanbul's police chief after Vehbi's death. Killed By Belgin. |
| Kerem Firtina | Adnan Tok | Prosecutor at the Istanbul courthouse. Works for Mehmet Saim. He tries to frame and prosecute Mahir for multiple crimes. Sentenced to prison. |
| Mehmet Bozdoğan | Berdan Kiliç (Yılan) | Part of the smuggling mafia, who works for Turgut. He owns a brothel and kills his enemies with snakes. Wants to marry Nilay/Zehra. Killed by Belgin. |
| Cemil Büyükdöğerli | Hilmi Sucu (Boksör) | Former boxer who is part of the Istanbul mafia. He kidnaps children and uses them to make money. Sentenced to prison. |
| Başay Okay | Süreyya | Manager of Yılan Berdan and Sarı Cemal's brothels. She was fired by Sarı Cemal. |
| Yıldız Kültür | Kader/Nihan Altun | Mahir's real mother. Süleyman Yılmaz's mistress. Killed by Turgut's men in a staged fire. |
| Kübra Balcan | Mahperi Yılmaz | Mahir's half sister. Daughter of Chief Prosecutor Süleyman Yılmaz. Killed by Turgut's men in a staged fire. |
| Aydan Taş | Aysel | Belgin's secretary and assistant in her beauty salon. Killed by Turgut's men accidentally instead of Belgin. |
| Sema Öztürk | Süeda | Singer at the Yeditepe casino who has an affair with Necdet. Has a daughter from Necdet named Zeynep. Killed by Necdet. |
| Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu | Nurten Alev | Ayten's younger sister. She leaves Istanbul to go live with her relatives in a country village. |
| Kadir Çermik | Geveze Ahmet | Part of the smuggling mafia, who works for Turgut. He loves to gamble. Killed by Turgut's men. |
| Özgür Emre Yildirim | Murat | Belgin's childhood friend from the orphanage who is in love with her and carries out her dirty work. He throws acid in Belgin's face after Belgin betrayed him. Killed by Belgin. |
| Cem Uslu | Seyit Durak | Hitman, who works for Turgut and Sosyete Yusuf. He placed the bomb in Mahir's car which led to the death of Safiye and Nazif. Killed by Mahir. |
| Diren Polatoğulları | İbrahim Durak (Ibo) | Necdet's childhood friend. He was part of the attack on the new market. Killed by Necdet. |
| Erkan Pekbay | Cihan | Kerime's illegitimate son from her ex-boyfriend. Feride's half brother. He was secretly kept alive by Mehmet Saim and used by him to threaten Kerime. |
| Ayhan Bozkurt | Suat | Turgut's right-hand man who carries out all his dirty work. Commits suicide in court at Turgut's order. |
| Ercan Reşat Demir | Rıza | Sinan's right-hand man who later betrayed him. Works for Mehmet Saim. |
| Ozan Ağaç | İsmet Ertekin | Mahir's neighbor and loyal friend, who owns a bakery. |
| Murat Mastan | Kemal | Policeman. Yasin's close friend. |
| Erdoğan Bilen | Tahsin | One of Sarı Cemal's former men who later becomes a part of Mahir's gang. |
| Melih Çardak | Serdar | Prison guard, who takes bribes. He rescued Turgut's life after Necdet tried to strangle him. Killed by Turgut Akın. |
| Oktay Gülbay | Süleyman Yılmaz | Chief Prosecutor of the Istanbul courthouse who was after the smuggling mafia. Nihan/Kader Altun's husband. Father of Mahperi. Killed by Turgut Akın. |
| Serkan Altintas | Yalçın | Mahir's neighbor, who owns a shop in the new market. |
| Çağdaş Tekelioğlu | Azmi | Apprentice in Nazif Kara's shoe shop. |

## Awards

The major award (often dubbed as the Turkish Oscars), the Altın Kelebek (Golden Butterfly awards), Karadayi won it in 5 different categories. Karadayi also got nomination in International Emmy Awards, 2014. Along with the nominations of lead actors Kenan İmirzalıoğlu and Bergüzar Korel.
| Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Golden Butterfly Awards 2013 | Best Drama Series | Karadayi | Won |
| Golden Butterfly Awards 2013 | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| Golden Butterfly Awards 2013 | Best Actress | Bergüzar Korel | Won |
| Golden Butterfly Awards 2013 | Best Directors | Uluç Bayraktar & Cem Karci | Won |
| Golden Butterfly Awards 2014 | Best Scenario | Eylem Canpolat & Sema Ergenekon | Won |
| Turkey Radio Awards 2012 | Best Actress | Berguzar Korel | Won |
| Ayakli Gazete Awards 2013 | Best Drama Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| Ayakli Gazete Awards 2013 | Best Drama Actress | Bergüzar Korel | Won |
| Ayakli Gazete Awards 2013 | Best Series Of The Year | Karadayi | Won |
| Ayakli Gazete Awards 2013 | Best Directors | Uluç Bayraktar & Cem Karci | Won |
| Ayakli Gazete Awards 2013 | Best Negative Role Actor | Yurdaer Okur | Won |
| Ayakli Gazete Awards 2013 | Best Supporting Actor | Rıza Kocaoğlu | Won |
| Ayakli Gazete Awards 2013 | Best Supporting Actress | Melike İpek Yalova | Won |
| Magazine casusu 2013 | Best Actress | Berguzar Korel | Won |
| Magazine casusu 2013 | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| 12. Magazinci.com Awards | Best TV Series | Karadayi | Won |
| 4th Antalaya Awards 2013 | Best Actor Of The Year | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| 4th Antalaya Awards 2013 | Best TV Series of the Season | Karadayi | Won |
| Golden Lion Awards 2013 | Best TV Series | Karadayi | Won |
| Golden Lion Awards 2013 | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| Golden Lion Awards 2013 | Best Actress | Bergüzar Korel | Won |
| MGD.Altın Objektif Ödül Töreni 2013 | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| Golden Lion Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Rıza Kocaoğlu | Won |
| Golden Lion Awards | Best Production Company | Ay Yapim | Won |
| Yerel Ve Bolgessel 2013 | Best Actress | Berguzar Korel | Won |
| Yerel Ve Bolgessel 2013 | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| Engelsiz Yasam Vakfi 2013 | Best Actress | Berguzar Korel | Won |
| Quality Awards 2013 | Best Actress | Berguzar Korel | Won |
| Quality Awards 2013 | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| GQ Awards 2013 | Man of the Year | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| RTGD - Medya Oscar | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| RTGD - Medya Oscar | Best Actress | Bergüzar Korel | Won |
| 5.Ayaklı Gazete Awards | Best Period Drama Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| 5.Ayaklı Gazete Awards | Best Period Drama Actress | Bergüzar Korel | Won |
| 5.Ayaklı Gazete Awards | Best Period Drama | Karadayi | Won |
| 5.Ayaklı Gazete Awards | Best Scenario | Sema Ergenekon & Eylem Canpolat | Won |
| 5.Ayaklı Gazete Awards | Best Period Drama Supporting Actor | Rıza Kocaoğlu | Won |
| 5.Ayaklı Gazete Awards | Best Period Drama Supporting Actress | Melike İpek Yalova | Won |
| 5.Ayaklı Gazete Awards | Best Directors | Uluç Bayraktar & Cem Karci | Won |
| MDG 21.Altın (Golden) Objektif Awards | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| MDG 21.Altın (Golden) Objektif Awards | Best Actress | Bergüzar Korel | Won |
| MDG 21.Altın (Golden) Objektif Awards | Best TV Series | Karadayi | Won |
| MDG 21.Altın (Golden) Objektif Awards | Best Performance | Funda Eryiğit | Won |
| 11. iletişim ödülleri İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| Bilkent Television | Best Actress | Berguzar Korel | Won |
| Halic University 2014 | Best Actress | Berguzar Korel | Won |
| Quality Magazine 2014 | Best Actress | Berguzar Korel | Won |
| Yildiz Tenik University 2014 | Best Actress | Berguzar Korel | Won |
| Yildiz Tenik University 2015 | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| Bilkent Television Ödülleri | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| Engelsiz Yasam Vakfi 2013 | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |
| Mersin Altın Palmiye Ödülleri 2015 | Best Actor | Kenan İmirzalıoğlu | Won |