Calinos bets on Ugly to conquer the global market

The distribution company Calinos Entertainment officially unveiled Ugly (Çirkin), its new series aimed at strengthening the presence of Turkish drama in the international market. Following its premiere on March 29 on Star TV, the series saw steady growth in viewership, rising from a 4.70 rating on its debut to 5.89 in its third episode, and surpassing 4.8 million views on YouTube.

Produced by 25 Film and directed by Burcu Alptekin and Merve Çolak, the series stars Derya Pınar Ak and Çağlar Ertuğrul, alongside a star-studded cast that includes Başak Gümülcinelioğlu and Çetin Tekindor.

The story follows Meryem Tunalı, a young woman scarred by loss who, after years of hardship, is reunited with her great love, Kadir. What begins as a romantic drama evolves into a broader tale of power, identity, and secrets from the past.

“It takes on an unusual emotional and cinematic dimension,” noted Aslı Serim, the company’s Head of Content, highlighting the title’s global potential. With an intense narrative and solid production values, Ugly is shaping up to be one of the new workhorses of Turkish fiction on its path to winning over international audiences.