Leyla: Love and Justice (orig. title: Leyla: Hayat… Aşk… Adalet…) is a 2024 Turkish drama serial film directed by Hilyal Saral. The film premiered in Turkey on September 11, 2024.
Leyla: Love and Justice is a Turkish drama series (telenovela) that first aired in Turkey from September 11, 2024 to June 22, 2025 and then reached an international audience, including in Bulgaria. The production was done by the popular company Ay Yapım and was directed by Hilal Saral, known for successful stories in the genre.
The series follows the story of Leyla, who grows up in difficult circumstances - after the death of her mother and the remarriage of her father, she is abandoned by her new stepmother in a dump where homeless children live. This leaves a scar that shapes her entire life and sets off a deeply personal journey towards justice and retribution.
Years later, Leyla returns with a new name and skills, determined to confront the powerful and wealthy Nur, the woman who destroyed her family. In this conflict, her personal thirst for justice is intertwined with dramatic twists, romantic relationships, and internal dilemmas as the past meets the present—including an encounter with her first love, Chivan, whose life is unexpectedly intertwined with hers.
Directed by Hilal Saral, the series develops a classic television dramedy/melodrama format that emphasizes emotional intensity and family intrigue. The narrative is built as an epic journey of the heroine, in which her past is revealed sequentially and influences every choice she makes.
Visually and stylistically, the production draws its strengths from traditional Turkish television storytelling — long episodes, highly developed character interaction, and a balance between melodramatic and thriller elements that keep interest going throughout the season.
Cemre Baysel plays the lead role of Leyla/Ela, bringing a strong emotional presence to the screen and transforming her into a character whose traumas and motivations remain central throughout the series.
Alperen Duymaz is Chivan, the love interest and a man with an important role in Leyla's life and plans — his dynamic with her adds romantic and dramatic density.
In the role of antagonist Noor, Gonja Wuslateri creates a memorable and complicated "stepmother from hell"—a character whose cruelty and manipulation form the key confrontation in the story.
The supporting ensemble includes Halil Ibrahim Ceyhan (Tufo), Yigit Kirazci (Mali), Cenzig Bozkurt (Selman), as well as Dilyara Aksuek, Seda Güven, Zeyno Erajar, Gamze Karaduman, who contribute to the richness of the family ties and social conflicts in the series.
Leyla: Love and Justice is an emotionally charged television drama that revives the genres of revenge, love, and family justice in a modern adaptation of classic telenovela motifs. The story balances personal trauma and the search for peace, while also raising questions about forgiveness, the place of love in life after destruction, and the limits of justice.
Although it has received mixed reviews from critics and viewers — with an IMDb rating of around 6.0/10 — the series has gained attention for its strong story and acting performances, as well as the tension it builds over its nearly 40 episodes.
