Mungan's family originates from Mardin.[1] His father is an Arab and mother is a Bosniak.[2] After receiving his BA from the Faculty of Letters and Drama at Ankara University, he worked as a dramaturg before devoting all his time to writing poetry, plays, short stories, novels, film scenarios, and songs. His first collection of poems, Osmanlıya Dair Hikayat (Stories about Ottomans) was published in 1980, making Mungan an overnight success.[1]
His output remained prolific and various poetry books followed, notably Yaz Gecer (Summer Passes) and Metal. He has written four theatre plays, which earned him wider success. Mahmud ile Yezida, Taziye are two of the most staged plays of the modern Turkish theatre.
His short stories were compiled in successful volumes such as Kırk Oda (Forty Rooms) and Paranın Cinleri (Genies of Money). His screenplay Dağınık Yatak (Messy Bed) was later filmed by director Atıf Yılmaz in 1986 starring Turkish actress Müjde Ar.
Mungan also wrote lyrics to some of Yeni Türkü's songs, and for pop singers such as Nükhet Duru.
^"Haberler: Aşk Tesadüfleri Sever". murathanmungan.com. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
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Yenicioğlu, Yiğithan (1997). "Gay Identities, Communities and Places in the 1990s in Istanbul". The British Council, Cultural Studies Courses.
^Torchia, Christopher (2007). "Turkey's GLBT community fights for rights and acceptance". Chicago Free Press. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2008.