“An Oudist in Rumeli” Documentary

The documentary is about an oudist named Rasim Salih from Mitrovica, who has played a major role in the cultural development of the Turkish Communities living in Kosovo. The main character has started his music career during the beginning of the 1930s, although he had not previously taken any academic or professional education. His interest in music had started when he was 10, while watching his barber master play mandolin. During that time period, he had been working as a foreman in that barber shop, and later on had continued to develop his skills with the old music books he had found from people around. With the help of those books, he has later on developed his great music skills displayed on many Classical Turkish Music instruments. In 1951, a new era of cultural development begins when the Turkish Communities of Kosovo gain their cultural and educational rights. Throughout this phase, Rasim Salih has educated many young people about the Turkish Music in different Cultural Organizations of many towns in Kosovo. He has established and created the Orchestra of Turkish 

Arts Music, within the State Radio of Prishtina. Therefore, he has helped promote and emphasize the uniqueness of the Turkish Culture by bringing together musicians of Turkish and other communities that live in Kosovo. His works have introduced and promoted the values of the Kosovar Arts and Culture to many countries throughout the world.

The film is a biographic documentary, which constitutes of consecutive sequences based on true stories. These stories interpret the life of Rasim Salih, who was a very well-known musician. In particular, Rasim Salih was famous and respected for his extraordinary talent in playing the instruments of oud. Moreover, his music career also included professionally playing other instruments such as violin and cümbüş*. Furthermore, the strongest creative characteristic of the documentary is its ability to reflect the Turkish Culture almost only through one person and his instrument, which is the instrument of oud.

This documentary is made up of three main parts. In order to bring the sparkle to the documentary, on its first part the actors have artistically interpreted his childhood and youth. The second part articulates scenes from the archives. Whereas the third part encompasses the chronicles as described by Rasim Salih’s profesors, musicians, and friends.

“Rumeli’de Bir Udi” Belgeseli

2016 yapımı olan Rumeli’de Bir Udi belgeseli   Yugoslavya Türkeri’nin , özellikle Kosova’da yaşayan Türklerin kimlik mücadelesini kültür sanat ayağında veren Rasim Salihin biyografisini anlatmaktadır.

Rasim Salih’in özellikle eski Yugoslavya topraklarındaki Türk kimliğinin ve kültürünün korunmasındaki önemini, sosyolojik etkisini ve sanatsal kalkınmayı anlatan belgesel birçok uluslararası platformda yayınlanmıştır. Bu sayede Kosova ve eski Yugoslavya’da yaşayan Türklerin tarihi de tanıtılmıştır.

Rumeli’de Bir Udi Belgeseli 2016 de Milano Film Yapımcıları Festivalinde en iyi hikaye ödülüne aday gösterildi. Aynı yıl Hollywood Belgesel Film Festivalinde en iyi yabancı belgesel dalında ödül aldı.