A detailed literature review was made of books written about Atatürk, national and international newspapers and diplomatic letters in preparation for the production.

[citation needed] Dündar is, according to Today's Zaman reviewer Emine Yıldırım, "a highly respected journalist and one of the most well-respected specialists on republican history" who, "investigates, making use of an extensive pool of archives and carefully crafted reconstructed scenes, not just the political but the personal trials and tribulations of the founder of modern Turkey, supported by an insightfully articulate narrative and the moving music of Goran Bregovic," but "aside from a few anecdotes, his film does not present anything we don’t already know about Atatürk."

"[2] When Mustafa was released, according to Hürriyet Daily News reviewer Emrah Güler, "it divided the nation into two, with one group praising the movie for its unprecedented portrayal of Atatürk as a human being, while the other criticized Dündar’s attempts at bringing the leader down from his pedestal.

"If you ask me," he continued, "I thought the film ultimately borders on mediocrity and doesn’t really tell us anything we don’t already know about Atatürk — he was a great leader, he was a visionary, he founded a nation from almost zilch, and, yes, he did have a fondness for the ladies and enjoyed his beverages.

Prof. Ahmet Ercan and Prof. Orhan Kural, the heads of anti-smoking groups, filed a complaint arguing that the chain-smoking and heavy drinking portrayed in the film is the advertisement of cigarette companies.

Dündar testified before the Ankara Prosecutor’s Office in December 2008 with regard to allegations of promoting smoking and insulting Atatürk's legacy.

[6] Turkcell, Turkey's main mobile phone provider, pulled out of a sponsorship deal, claiming they had no knowledge concerning the fact that the film would concentrate on Atatürk's personal life.