Heylaa is a 2006 Maldivian crime film written and directed by Moomin Fuad.[1] Produced by Mohamed Samee, the film stars Ismail Rasheed, Ahmed Mauroof and Zeenath Abbas in pivotal roles.[2] Winning five Gaumee Film Awards, the film was also screened at several Film Festivals including the South Asian Film Festival Maldives, 2007.[3][4]

Heylaa
Official film poster
Directed byMoomin Fuad
Ali Shifau
Screenplay byMoomin Fuad
Produced byMohamed Samee
StarringIsmail Rasheed
Ahmed Mauroof
Zeenath Abbas
Lufshan Shakeeb
Abdulla Muaz
CinematographyMoomin Fuad
Ali Shifau
Edited byAli Shifau
Music byShaaz Saeed
Release date
  • 2006 (2006)
CountryMaldives
LanguageDhivehi

The film narrates the story of a fourteen-year-old boy who finds himself unknowingly being involved in smuggling of a revolver.[1] Though the film received positive reviews from critics, it was a commercial failure.[1][2] The film is the first Maldivian film to be shot in high-definition digital video.[5]

Plot

edit

Shuhaadh (Ahmed Mauroof) is a fourteen-year-old boy who has been physically and verbally abused by his father, Ahamma (Ismail Rasheed), who has been recently brought from police custody after being jailed for his involvement in drug deals. Shuhaadh, who mostly is dependent on few of his neighbors including Sobira (Aminath Shareef) and her son Ashraf (Lufshan Shakeeb), meets a mysterious man who offered to save him from his misery. The man assigns him a task, paid him beforehand and he accomplished the task where he finds himself being involved in smuggling of a revolver.

A confused Shuhaadh learns to fire it. The thought of the weapon keeps haunting him all day and he finally reveals it to Ashraf, who guides him to inform the police. Meanwhile, Ahamma was arranging a drug deal at home. Shuhaadh discovers about the deal and tries to save his father by begging him to halt the deal. Furious, Ahamma violently beats Shuhaadh, who ends up shooting and killing his father.

Cast

edit

Soundtrack

edit
Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ufaaverikan"Abdulla Hameed FahumyFord 
2."Hirafuhaa Eevee"Abdulla Hameed FahumyAhmed Tholal 

Reception

edit

According to director Shifau, the film was a learning project for the team, however the audience response was very underwhelming with less than five hundred people watching the film on screen. He believed that its commercial status was a result of casting "not very prominent" faces in the film and the "film-goers were not ready to accept the genre" at the time of release.[6]

Ahmed Nadheem from Haveeru called the film an "awakening film" from a "drowsed industry". Satisfied with the plot twists and narration, Nadheem wrote: "There always is a lead in its narration. When a scene cuts one another, it has always been followed by a rich dialogue. Though this is directors' first project, one can clearly see their ambition and determination".[7]

Accolades

edit
Year Award Category Recipients Result Ref.
2008 5th Gaumee Film Awards Best Actress Zeenath Abbas Nominated [8]
Best Supporting Actor Ismail Rasheed Won [9]
Lufshan Shakeeb Nominated [8]
Best Child Artist Ahmed Mauroof Won [9]
Best Story Moomin Fuad Won [9]
Best Cinematography Moomin Fuad, Ali Shifau Won [9]
Best Art Direction Moomin Fuad, Ali Shifau, Mohamed Ali Won [9]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Adhushan, Ahmed (14 September 2017). "11 years anniversary for DRE; what did they achieve?". Dho (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b Adhushan, Ahmed (4 July 2011). "Fuad regrets his involvement in Happy Birthday". Haveeru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Indian movies part of Maldives' first film fest". Livemint. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  4. ^ Maaha, Aishath (21 October 2018). "Fuad regrets his involvement in Happy Birthday". Dho? (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Gaumee Inaam 2018 - Ali Shifau". Presidency Maldives (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  6. ^ Luba, Aminath (8 August 2018). "Chippe with new hopes after receiving National Award". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  7. ^ Nadheem, Ahmed (29 March 2012). "Heylaa: An awakening film from a drowsed industry". Haveeru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  8. ^ a b "SAARC Film Festival 2017 (PDF)" (PDF). South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e Ahmed, Fazeena (13 April 2008). "Winners of 5th Gaumee Film Awards". Haveeru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
edit