| Peruz | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Petuz Terzakyan |
| Alias: | Peruz |
| Birth Place: | Sivas, Ottoman Empire |
| Birth Date: | 1866 |
| Genre: | kanto |
| Occupation: | Singer-songwriter |
| Years Active: | 1880–1912 |
Peruz (1866 in Sivas[1] – c. 1920 in Istanbul) also known as Peruz Hanım[2] or Kantocu Peruz,[3] [4] [5] Perviz Hanım was an Ottoman Armenian kanto singer, songwriter. Her family name was Terzakyan.[6] [7] One of her nicknames was Afet-i Devran Peruz.[8]
Peruz started singing kantos in 1880 when she was 14 years old.[1] She composed her songs and was also the lyricist. Her stage life lasted until 1912. She was beetle-browed, bulk-bodied, attractive and flirtatious woman.[1] Bestekâr Şevki Bey ("Composer Şevki Bey", 1860–1891) fell in love with Peruz and composed many scores such as Hidjaz Severim can ü gönülden seni tersa çiçeğim for her.[5] Her songs were published as "Neşe-i Dil". Peruz was a pioneer with her cousin Şamram (Kelleciyan, 1870–1955),[7] Baydzar, Büyük Emilye [Ameliya] (Pol), Küçük Eleni (Greek), Küçük Virjin [Virgine], Mari Ferha and Agavni all non-Muslim kanto singers.
Peruz was also credited as a lead in 1919 silent short Fahri Bey Makarna Tenceresinde ("Mr. Fahri in Pasta Pot") by Fahri Bey (İsmet Fahri Gülunç).[9] Rushen Hakki and Fahri himself were other actors. Fahri Bey directed another short film of the same year Tombul Aşığın Dört Sevgilisi ("Four Darlings of Plump Lover").[10] The film was not completed de to a legal dispute and there were no credit records for Peruz. Peruz died at 54 years old.[1]