Özhan Eren

Özhan Eren — Biography

Özhan Eren followed an unusual path from army officer to composer, songwriter, film director and screenwriter. An interest in the harsher chapters of Turkish history, notably the Sarıkamış campaign and the War of Independence, runs through both his albums and his films.

He finished primary school in Amasya, graduated from Kuleli Military High School in 1976 and from the Turkish Military Academy in 1980, and in 1982 completed the military survey school to become a survey engineer. His music, begun in the school orchestra, continued as TRT took his compositions into its repertoire; he eventually settled in Istanbul and scored films, television series, documentaries and commercials. The reception of his song "Kara Tren" pushed him toward an album: after his first, Güle Yazdım, came Turnalara Tutun da Gel (2001), the Sarıkamış-themed Sarıkamış'lı Geçmiş Zaman (2003) and Kime Sorsam (2005). In 2005 he also published a book on the same subject, Sarıkamış'a Giden Yol. In 2011 he wrote the AK Party election song "Haydi Bir Daha".

He turned to directing with 120 (2008) and Son Mektup (2015), writing the script and music for both. In 2022 he moved to Balıkesir to make further films, and in 2024 he served on the jury of the competition Sen Türkülerini Söyle.