I Loved You, Don't Say It (Film)

Sevmedim Deme is a 2022 Turkish drama and biographical film directed by Burak Kuka, with a screenplay written by Eylül İdiman, Burak Bulut, and Kurtuluş Kuş. It is a co-production of NETD, DMC, and Mahzen Media. The film explores the lives of Kurtuluş Kuş and Burak Bulut before they met, their passion for music, the hardships they endured in the past, and the process that brought them together. Both artists portray themselves in the lead roles. The film was released in theaters on October 14, 2022, distributed by CJ ENM. It was initially announced under the title “Omuz Omuza” before being renamed for its release.

The film centers on two young men who find meaning through music, despite never having met before. Coming from vastly different life circumstances, Kurtuluş Kuş and Burak Bulut turn to music as an escape from their harsh environments, holding onto their passion despite the challenges they face in their personal lives.

A pivotal figure in their lives is music producer Tolga Aykut. Under Aykut’s guidance, Kurtuluş and Burak come together and achieve widespread recognition with their jointly created song “Sevmedim Deme.” The film chronicles their journey toward this song, their discovery of each other, their efforts to establish themselves in the music industry, and the personal losses they experienced along the way, all presented in a chronological narrative.

• Kurtuluş Kuş (Himself): The main character who portrays his own real-life story on screen, using his own voice and personality to depict a difficult past and view music as an emotional form of expression.
• Burak Bulut (Himself): The main character who portrays his own life journey shaped by a passion for discovering the soul and expressive power of music, as well as the process of meeting Kurtuluş Kuş.
• Ceyda Ateş: An actress who plays a key female role, adding emotional depth to the film’s dramatic narrative.
• Şebnem Sönmez: Portrays a supporting female character whose presence reflects the film’s themes of family and past.
• Nebil Sayın: An actor who plays one of the supporting male characters, providing a supportive function throughout the story.
• Rıza Akın: An experienced actor who takes on supporting roles surrounding the main characters, contributing to the film’s overall atmosphere.
• Yalçın Hafızoğlu: A supporting actor who portrays a character that reinforces the cohesion of the scenes.
• Tolga Aykut (Himself): The music producer who brought Kurtuluş Kuş and Burak Bulut together, portrayed by himself, playing a decisive role in their meeting.
• Aytaç Uşun: An actor in the supporting cast who portrays a role that enhances the narrative.
• Eliz Baltacı: A young actress who appears in the childhood scenes of the film.

• Screenplay: The screenplay was co-written by Eylül İdiman, Burak Bulut, and Kurtuluş Kuş. The story is based on real events and covers the period before and the initial breakthrough of the duo’s music careers.
• Music: The film’s score was composed by Abdurrahman Şimşek, and extensive use is made of songs by Kurtuluş Kuş and Burak Bulut.
• Cinematography: The cinematography was handled by Ömer Yılmaz.
• Production: The film was produced as a joint venture by NETD, DMC, and Mahzen Media.
• Digital Distribution: Following its theatrical release, the film was also released on the Amazon Prime Video platform.

In its opening weekend, the film was watched by 43,874 viewers and generated approximately 2,239,774 TL in revenue. By the end of its eight-week theatrical run, the total number of viewers reached 124,486 and the total revenue amounted to 6,045,000 TL.^【1】