In the summer months of 1938, a pleasant breeze flowing from the sea gently caressed the coast in Çamlık locality on Büyükada.
In the tea garden right on the shore, the melodies of a tango that enchants one's soul rise from the tired gramophone: The tango "Like a Seagull" rises in those notes that Seyyan Hanım gives life to:
“You ran away like a seagull longing for the distance
From the shore of my love, from the horizon of my eyes.
You came and went away like a summer cloud;
What remains of you inside me is the sound of a rain.
But the clouds gather again one evening,
And one morning the seagulls return to their shores.
If you too return like a seagull; If I meet you,
If you mix with me like a summer rain again..."
Everyone listens to these rising melodies. A young, engaged couple also hears it. Mr. İhsan and Ms. İlhan… Mr. İhsan said, “But how can this happen!” he mutters in surprise, “The words of this tango belong to me!”
They go to the tea garden and listen to the record with rapt attention again. After making sure, they look at the record: "Owner's Voice" record company says. They immediately reach the company on Istiklal Street, the responsible manager is the famous composer Artaki Candan Efendi. İhsan Bey meets with Artaki Candan Efendi and explains that the poem he wrote was used without permission. Artaki Candan Efendi says that the person who used the poem without permission is the composer of the work, Mustafa Şükrü Alpar, and that they should meet with him. They call the phone number given by Mr. Artaki, and when he explains the situation, Mustafa Şükrü Alpar offers to meet face to face. They made a contract at İhsan Bey's house on Şafak Street in Osmanbey. As soon as Mustafa Şükrü Bey arrives, he takes out 110 liras and hands him over. “What is this money?” they ask. Mustafa Şükrü “Your right!” answers. "I saw this poem in a memoir, I liked it very much and decided to compose it. Half of what I earned from this work."
Mr. İhsan has just gotten engaged, and while he is thinking, "How will I buy furniture for the house?", this money comes and they furnish the house from top to bottom. By a coincidence, the poem written by İhsan Bey became one of the most popular tango works in Turkey.
FIRST STEP TO WRITER
The childhood years of İhsan, the only child of the family, were bittersweet. First, their house in Üsküdar burned down, and when he was nine years old, he suddenly lost his father, Major Sabri Bey. His mother looks after İhsan by sewing. Even though he got into Kuleli Military School, he was not accepted because his lungs were weak. An acquaintance of theirs recommends Darüşşafaka. İhsan passes the exam and enrolls in the school as student number 918. He starts writing from the seventh grade. He sends his articles to various magazines.
In fact, the story he sent to "Illustrated Month" on behalf of a friend received an award. He sends the story "Our Home" to Yaşar Nabi, the owner of Varlık, and it becomes a popular story. After reading "Our Home", Peyami Safa writes a praising article. He writes under the names "İhsan Naim" and "İhsan Aygün" in many magazines, including Varlık, together with well-known names such as Hasan Âli Yücel, Sabahattin Ali, Abdülhak Şinasi, Sait Faik, Orhan Veli, Nahid Sırrı Örik, Behçet Kemal.
He is also interested in publishing. At the request of Darüşşafaka school principal Ali Kami Akyüz, he publishes a magazine called "Gündüz". In the first months of 1935, he published the famous "Yücel" magazine together with Yusuf Mardin and Mukhtar Fehmi Enata. He became a well-known name while he was still a student at Darüşşafaka. When the Surname Law was enacted, he took the surname "Devrim"; Thus, it becomes the "İhsan Devrim" that we all know. Although he entered the faculty of law in 1938, he could not finish his studies, but she helped him meet his wife İlhan Hanım and they got married two years later.
İhsan Devrim founded ABC Bookstore with Burhan Arpad and Salah Birsel in 1942. However, it won't last long. At the end of two years, he opened his own publishing house and "Devrim Publications" was established in this way. In 1944, he published Rıfat Ilgaz's famous book "Class". He became friends with many writers during this period: Cahit Sıtkı, Orhan Veli, Sait Faik, Ahmet Muhip Dıranas, Sabahattin Ali... Aziz Nesin even tells that Sabahattin Ali read a draft of a novel to İhsan Devrim at the Petrograd Patisserie. This is the novel "Çineli Kübra", which was thought to be a sequel to "Kuyucaklı Yusuf" but could not be completed. In 1946, the publishing house was damaged in the Tan Printing House incident and withdrew from publishing. Over time, his books "Our Home" in 1937, "Yemen Song" and "Memories" in 1943 were published.
FIRST STEP TO THE THEATER
The person who made him love theater was Raşit Rıza Samako. At the Red Crescent's mass circumcision ceremony, Samako appeared on stage with the play "Piece of Stone". Ihsan became circumcised that day and loved theatre. This love continues while he is at Darüşşafaka. He is even interested in painting and dancing. While studying at Darüşşafaka, he stepped onto the stage with Mahmut Yesari's play "Between the Anvil and the Hammer". In 1932, he founded a theater group called "Beşer Mahfili" with his friends from Darüşşafaka. Musahipzade Celal supports and directs his plays. İhsan acts in Musahipzade's plays and then joins Vasfi Rıza Zobu's troupe.
He appears in Bakırköy Community Center performances. His friend Turhan Göker, who is a stage manager, also noticed his talent and suggested him to enter the Istanbul City Theaters, where he worked. When İhsan Devrim is not willing, Göker writes a petition through İhsan Devrim's mouth. Management also accepts. Without his knowledge, İhsan Devrim entered the Istanbul City Theater in 1951 upon the application made by his friend. He first became a "prompter" and then an "actor" and quickly became prominent with his talent. He even takes the stage as the leading actor when Vasfi Rıza cannot act.
THE 'SUPER DAD' YEARS
İhsan Devrim remained on stage for more than 50 years, worked as an actor in Yeşilçam and acted in more than 30 films. Although he appeared in various TV series in his last period, he is remembered with the TV series "Süper Baba". He plays the character of "Yakup Dede", the grumpy and flirtatious grandfather of Şevket Altuğ, that is, Fiko, and becomes a name loved by everyone from 7 to 70.
Devrim, who served Turkish art for many years as a writer, theater actor, film actor and publisher, said in an interview he gave shortly before his death that he held on tightly to life thanks to the acting he loved so much. He spent his last days at Darüşşafaka, which welcomed him and gave him education during his childhood, and passed away on January 6, 2010, at Darüşşafaka Special Care Unit.
