Kerem and Aslı
Kerem and Aslı is a sad love story from 16th-century Turkish‑Azerbaijani folk poetry. It probably began in Azerbaijan or eastern Anatolia and spreads across the Caucasus and Central Asia. The tale is sung by Aşık singers.
The story is about Kerem, son of Isfahan’s Muslim ruler, and Aslı, the daughter of an Armenian‑Christian monk (sometimes described as the ruler’s treasurer). Kerem falls in love, but her father refuses to allow the marriage because of their different religions. He flees with Aslı, and Kerem, with his friend Sofu, goes in search of her. After many adventures, they find Aslı and marry with the help of Aleppo’s pasha.
On their wedding night, the enchanted robe’s buttons cannot be released. Kerem sighs so deeply that he burns to ashes. Aslı tries to save him but dies as well. The tale has many variants, with journeys to places like Khoy, Tbilisi, Ganja, and Yerevan.
Aşık Kerem, as he is often called, recites poems in caravanserais and coffee houses, praising Aslı and using images of mountains, rivers, and animals. He and Sofu face many dangers, and the story includes coincidences and magic—such as being born at the same hour, Khidr helping Kerem, and scenes on Mount Judi.
The earliest known record is in a 16th‑century collection. The story appeared in print in the 19th century. In 1888, Ahmed Fahri wrote a five‑act play, and Leopold Grünfeld translated Kerem and Aslı into German. Scholars include Mehmet Fuat Köprülü, Pertev Naili Boratav, and Cahit Öztelli.
Opera adaptations include Üzeyir Hacıbəyov’s "Əsli və Kərəm" (1912) and Ahmed Adnan Saygun’s later work "Kerem." Folk music has a special form called Kerem havaları. Films appeared in 1942 and 1971, and a 2002 TV series "Aslı ile Kerem." The Azerbaijani opera premiered in 1912.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:41 (CET).