Famous TV, movie director Cakmakli dies at 72

Director, producer and scriptwriter Yücel Cakmakli, who directed classic Turkish TV series including "Küçük Ağa" (The Little Agha) and "Bir Adam Yaratmak" (To Create a Man), died yesterday at Istanbul University's Medical School, where he was undergoing treatment. Cakmakli, also known as Turkey's "national director" since he led a movement to address Turkey's national issues and make movies based on classic Turkish literary works, last year received the Order of Merit award from Parliament and was recognized by the Culture and Tourism Ministry for his contributions to Turkish culture. In a statement, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Cakmakli would always be remembered with respect and admiration, praising his deep, unique impact on Turkish cinema. Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay also highlighted Cakmakli's importance for Turkish movies.