Suneetha Ali (born 28 May 1977) is a Maldivian choreographer, actress and producer.

Suneetha Ali
Born (1977-05-28) 28 May 1977 (age 46)
Aa. Ukulhas, Maldives
Occupation(s)Choreographer, actress, producer
Years active1994–present

Early life edit

Suneetha Ali was born on 28 May 1977 in Aa. Ukulhas.[1] Her father, is a fisherman while her mother is a homemaker.[1] Ali spent most of her childhood, in a melodramatic environment, dancing to the tunes of songs from Bollywood.[1] After her failed marriage, Ali, at the age of fourteen, relocated to Male' where she got exposed to the stage shows and music performances.[1] A few months later, she participated in a local talent show, Galaxy where she danced to few Bollywood songs and her performance was criticized by the audience to the point where she was "booed off the stage".[1] However, strong-willed, Ali "polished" her act a year later she was cast as a background dance in a television series.[1]

Career edit

In 1994, Suneetha starred in the Mariyam Shauqee and Arifa Ibrahim-directed family drama Manzil (1994) which follows as an intelligent and hardworking orphan, whose life takes a dramatic turn while working as a servant in a reputed family.[2] Apart from playing the role of Lubna in Amjad Ibrahim's television series, Dheben (1997), she was cast as a maid in his feature film Loabeega Aniyaa (1997) released in 1997.[3] She next starred in Mariyam Shauqee's widely acclaimed family drama television series Kahthiri, where she played the friend of an indolent mother.[4]

This was followed by her appearances in item songs of films including, Mila Handhuvaru (1998), Hiyy Halaaku (1998) and Hiiy Edhenee (2001). She then worked with Ibrahim for his children's horror films, Santhi Mariyanbu 1 (2001) and Safaru Kaiydha 1 (2001) where she played the titular roles in all of the installments.[3] The following year, she collaborated with Amjad Ibrahim for his horror film Sandhuravirey (2002) which narrates the story of a female jinn aiming to win the heart of a human being.[5] Featuring Shafeeu and Mariyam Nisha in lead roles, she played the role of a mentally retarded young woman.[6] Upon release, the film received poor reviews from critics.[6]

Personal life edit

At the age thirteen, Ali decided to marry her best-friend, to which her parents refused citing her young age.[1] However, with the help of her neighbors and family members, she managed to convinces her parent for her marriage which lasted three months, when she filed for divorce as her husband disapproved her to play sports with boys of her age.[1]

In June 2013, while Ali was trying hard to move on with her 8 years old romantic relationship, which she breaks up herself an year ago, for discovering her boyfriends affair, gets amused by the news of Bollywood actor, Priyanka Chopra signing a film four days later to her father's demise, showing "remarkable display of resilience".[1] Noting the progression from the actor, Ali started "idolizing" her from following her hairstyles to makeup to wardrobe collection.[1] Soon, she started performing tributes to Chopra by singing, dancing and producing music videos of her Hindi songs, dubbed in Dhivehi, which attracted several criticism from the locals and industry colleagues where she gets mocked by referring her as "Suniyanka".[1] She recalls her engagement with Chopra at the music concert held in January 2015 as her "happiest day" in her life.[1]

Filmography edit

Feature film edit

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1997 Hinithun Herself Special appearance in the song "Khiyaal Gehlunee Hey?" [7]
1997 Loabeege Aniyaa Maid [3]
1998 Mila Handhuvaru Herself Special appearance in the song "Fari Mooney Thee Hoadhaalaa" [3]
2000 Hiyy Halaaku Herself Special appearance in the song "Thiya Loabi Handhaanveema" [8]
2001 Hiiy Edhenee Herself Special appearance in the song "Furusathu Libi Dhuniyeyga" [9]
2002 Sandhuravirey Safa [6]

Short films edit

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Santhi Mariyan'bu 1 Santhi Mariyan'bu Children's film
2001 Safaru Kaiydha 1 Safaru Kaiydha Children's film

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Manzil Jeeza
1994 Qurubaan Shifa Recurring role; 4 episodes
1997 Dheben Lubna
1997 Kahthiri Suneetha Recurring role; 20 episodes
2003 Edhuvas En'buri Annaanenama Herself Special appearance in the song "Hiyy Magey Kiyaadhemey"
2004 Vaisoori Aisthu In the segment "Ih'thiraam Hoadhavaa"[10]
2008 Manzilakee Thee Ey Magey Herself Special appearance in the song "Haadha Loaiybey Heeleemaa"

Other work edit

Year Title Director Producer Notes
2004 Hiyy Dheewaanaa Yes Songs DVD; Co-produced with Shareefa Fakhry
2005 Hiyy Dheewaanaa 2 Yes Songs DVD; Co-produced with Shareefa Fakhry
2006 Hiyy Dheewaanaa 3 Yes Songs DVD; Co-produced with Shareefa Fakhry
2008 Hiyy Dheewaanaa 4 Yes Songs DVD; Co-produced with Shareefa Fakhry
2010 Magey Hithakee Hitheh Noon Hey? Yes Drama series
2011 Hiyy Dheewaanaa 5 Yes Songs DVD
2013 Hiyy Dheewaanaa 6 Yes Songs DVD

Accolades edit

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref(s)
2007 4th Gaumee Film Awards Best Choreography Kalaayaanulaa (Shared with Ravee Farooq) Won [11]
2007 1st Miadhu Crystal Award Best Video Album Hiyy Dheewaanaa 3 Won [12]
Best Video Song "Fathis Dhan" - Hiyy Dheewaanaa 3 Won [12]
2008 2nd Miadhu Crystal Award Best Audio Album Hiyy Dheewaanaa 4 Won [13]
Best Video Song "Crazy Khiyaaley" - Hiyy Dheewaanaa 4 Won [13]
Best Choreography "Crazy Khiyaaley" - Hiyy Dheewaanaa 4 Won [13]
2021 ASIA Awards 2020/2021 Asia's Outstanding Woman Achiever Award Won [14]
2021 Women Icon Award 2021 Outstanding Women Award Won [15]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Khandekar, Omkar (3 March 2017). "Priyanka Chopra's biggest fan went from being a fisherman's daughter to Maldives' most famous personality". GQ. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  2. ^ Rasheed, Ahmed (9 January 2020). "Shameel to play a tough father's role in Hanaa". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Adhushan, Ahmed (23 December 2016). "Amjey shocked with his deserving award". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  4. ^ Ali, Ifraz (1 October 2019). "Where are all the drama series?". Dho? (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Amjay's contribution in the industry is recommended". PSMNews (in Divehi). 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Adhushan, Ahmed (30 January 2017). "A festival of Amjey's films to be organized". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  7. ^ Ifraz, Ali (23 September 2018). "Wajeeh and Jamsheedha reunites at polling location". Avas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  8. ^ Maaha, Aishath (12 April 2018). "Niuma and Eupe together for one last time". Dho? (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  9. ^ Abdulla, Fareeha (29 April 2016). "Maldivians like copied products; our own style is not accepted: Seezan" (in Divehi). Vaguthu. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  10. ^ Milna, Mariyam (8 February 2019). "Arifa Ibrahim – Star of the Day". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  11. ^ Nadheem, Ahmed (30 December 2007). "Winners of 4th Gaumee Film Awards". Haveeru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Zuleykha Awarded as Best Film winning in eight categories". Haveeru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "Garnier Miadhu Crystal Award night : Yousey Afee and Chiliya bags top awards". Miadhu. 21 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Suneetha Ali has bagged Asia's Outstanding Woman Achiever Award". Asia Awards. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  15. ^ Rasheed, Ahmed (27 December 2021). "Another International Award for Sunee". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.