Ahmed Zareer is a Maldivian screenwriter, director and producer. He initially gained recognition for his collaborative work with screenwriter
Mahdi Ahmed
Mahdi Ahmed (born 17 October 1971) is a Maldivian screenwriter, producer and film director. He made his career debut with critically acclaimed film '' Amaanaaiy'' (1998), which fetched him several awards including a Gaumee Film Award for Best Dire ...
, during which they co-wrote screenplays for several projects, including the action masala film ''
Ahsham'' (2015), family drama ''
Vee Beyvafa
''Vee Beyvafa'' is a 2016 Maldivian romantic film directed by Ibrahim Wisan. Produced by Ahmed Shah and Hussain Munawwar under Sunshine Production, the film stars Niuma Mohamed, Yoosuf Shafeeu, Zeenath Abbas, Abdulla Muaz and Fathimath Fareela i ...
'' (2016) and the crime anthology web series ''
Hatharu Halha
''Hatharu Halha'' is a 2019 Maldivian Anthology film, anthology crime film, consisting of four short film segments directed by Moomin Fuad, Ravee Farooq, Ali Shifau and Abdul Faththaah. Produced by Mohamed Fuad, the film features an ensemble cast ...
'' (2019). Following disputes during the pre-production stage of the suspense thriller film ''
Vishka'' (2017), Zareer ventured into independent work, contributing to the screenplay of the thriller film ''
Leena Leena is a feminine given name. It is a variant spelling of Lina and Lena (name), Lena.
It is a direct Quranic Arabic name, meaning "young palm tree", or figuratively "tender, young, delicate".
In Persian, it means "light", "a ray of sunlight" or ...
'' (2019), romantic drama ''
Andhirikan'' (2020) and political thriller film ''
Maryam'' (2021), where he also took on the role of co-producer. Later in his career, Zareer expanded his professional portfolio by directing ''
Beeveema'', which was released in 2023.
Career
In 2015, Zareer worked with
Mahdi Ahmed
Mahdi Ahmed (born 17 October 1971) is a Maldivian screenwriter, producer and film director. He made his career debut with critically acclaimed film '' Amaanaaiy'' (1998), which fetched him several awards including a Gaumee Film Award for Best Dire ...
for
Ali Seezan
Ali Seezan (born 6 February 1977) is a Maldivian film actor, producer, director and editor. He has established a career in Maldives Film Industry and is a recipient of several awards, including two Gaumee Film Awards, and two Maldives Film Award ...
's cop action thriller film ''
Ahsham'' which follows a police in-charge seeking peace and judgment in a politically empowered local island.
The film received a mixed to positive response from critics, where Ahmed Nadheem from ''Avas'' praised the writers' effort to blend romance, action and comedy into the film.
The film fetched him a nomination for
Best Screenplay
This list of screenwriting awards for film is an index to articles on notable awards given for film screenwriting. The list is organized by region and country of the awards venue or sponsor, but winners are not necessarily restricted to people fro ...
at
8th Gaumee Film Awards
8th Gaumee Film Awards ceremony, honored the best Maldivian films released between 2014 and 2016. The ceremony was held on 20 December 2017.
Winners and nominees
Main awards
Nominees were announced on 12 December 2017.
Technical awards
Short ...
.
Ibrahim Wisan
Ibrahim Wisan (born 27 February 1977), nicknamed as Kandi, is a Maldivian cinematographer, actor, and director.
Career
In 1996, Wisan starred in Mohamed Rasheed's ''Hifehettumeh Neiy Karuna'' opposite Niuma Mohamed, Abdul Raheem and Arifa Ibrahi ...
directed family drama ''
Vee Beyvafa
''Vee Beyvafa'' is a 2016 Maldivian romantic film directed by Ibrahim Wisan. Produced by Ahmed Shah and Hussain Munawwar under Sunshine Production, the film stars Niuma Mohamed, Yoosuf Shafeeu, Zeenath Abbas, Abdulla Muaz and Fathimath Fareela i ...
'' was released in 2016, where Zareer wrote the screenplay of the film along with
Mahdi Ahmed
Mahdi Ahmed (born 17 October 1971) is a Maldivian screenwriter, producer and film director. He made his career debut with critically acclaimed film '' Amaanaaiy'' (1998), which fetched him several awards including a Gaumee Film Award for Best Dire ...
. The film received negative responses from critics, with Ahmed Adhushan of ''Mihaaru'' calling it "a step backward" in the progress of cinema.
In 2019, Zareer collaborated with
Abdulla Muaz
Abdulla Muaz is a Maldivian film actor, editor and directors and officers and
Career
Muaz made a brief appearance in Yoosuf Shafeeu directed horror film ''Edhathuru'' (2004) which revolves around eight friends who go on a picnic to a haunted unin ...
for his thriller film ''
Leena Leena is a feminine given name. It is a variant spelling of Lina and Lena (name), Lena.
It is a direct Quranic Arabic name, meaning "young palm tree", or figuratively "tender, young, delicate".
In Persian, it means "light", "a ray of sunlight" or ...
'' (2019), which centers around a young woman filled with aspirations for her life and future, only to meet a tragic end due to circumstances beyond her control. Inspired by the murder case of Azleena Nafees who was found dead in a bathroom with multiple stab wounds in 2001, the film landed in a controversy when Azleena's family objected to produce a film based on the incident of her suffering. Upon its release, the film received negative reception from critics. Ifraz Ali from ''Dho?'' criticized Zareer's "flat screenplay" for the missed opportunities in captivating the audience with thrilling experience.
Later in the year, the first Maldivian
anthology
In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs, or related fiction/non-fiction excerpts by different authors. There are also thematic and g ...
web series ''
Hatharu Halha
''Hatharu Halha'' is a 2019 Maldivian Anthology film, anthology crime film, consisting of four short film segments directed by Moomin Fuad, Ravee Farooq, Ali Shifau and Abdul Faththaah. Produced by Mohamed Fuad, the film features an ensemble cast ...
'' was released, for which Zareer alongside
Mahdi Ahmed
Mahdi Ahmed (born 17 October 1971) is a Maldivian screenwriter, producer and film director. He made his career debut with critically acclaimed film '' Amaanaaiy'' (1998), which fetched him several awards including a Gaumee Film Award for Best Dire ...
contributed in writing the screenplay for three segments.
This project, shot in 2013, was digitally released six years later due to post-production delays.
The following year, Zareer wrote the screenplay for
Ali Seezan
Ali Seezan (born 6 February 1977) is a Maldivian film actor, producer, director and editor. He has established a career in Maldives Film Industry and is a recipient of several awards, including two Gaumee Film Awards, and two Maldives Film Award ...
's romantic drama film ''
Andhirikan'' which follows the downfall of a happy family as the wife is unable to conceive a baby.
[ Upon its release, the film received mixed reviews from critics and due to ]COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
the film was pulled from theaters after only four shows were screened.
In 2021, Zareer wrote and co-produced Ibrahim Wisan
Ibrahim Wisan (born 27 February 1977), nicknamed as Kandi, is a Maldivian cinematographer, actor, and director.
Career
In 1996, Wisan starred in Mohamed Rasheed's ''Hifehettumeh Neiy Karuna'' opposite Niuma Mohamed, Abdul Raheem and Arifa Ibrahi ...
-directed political thriller film '' Maryam'' which narrates the journey of an ordinary woman to dethrone an influential politician representing her constituency. The film was initially scheduled for theatrical release in August 2020, ultimately opting for a digital release due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. He then collaborated with Dark Rain Entertainment
Dark Rain Entertainment is a Maldivian production company based in Male' producing Maldivian films. Established in 2006, the studio has produced the first Maldivian films shot entirely in HD, 3D and on DSLR.
History
The studio's first feature ...
for a romantic comedy web series '' Giritee Loabi'', starring Mohamed Vishal, Aminath Rashfa, Mohamed Manik
Mohamed Manik (15 October 1969) is a Maldivian film actor, director and makeup artist.
Career 2002–10: Critical acclaim and breakthrough
Manik rose to fame and prominence in the television industry and was applauded for his performance in a dua ...
and Adam Rizwee
Adam Rizwee is a Maldivian film actor.
Career
In 2014, Rizwee made his film debut in the Aishath Fuad Thaufeeg directed art film Hulhudhaan in a minor role. In 2015 he was cast in Ali Shifau-directed romantic film '' Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen ...
in main roles. The series follows an introverted boyfriend who makes attempt to impress the father of his girlfriend. Later during the year, he collaborated with Ali Shazleem
Ali Shazleem is a Maldivian film actor, director and producer.
Career
Shazleem made his film debut in the Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq-directed '' Hulhudhaan'' (2014) alongside Mariyam Majudha, which was a critical success. The film was later screened a ...
for his suspense thriller web series '' Nafsu'' which follows a wealthy businessman and his young wife who takes a trip to a local island to escape from the hustle and bustle of the Male' city, and how the girl begins to unravel secrets about the guesthouse they stayed in while confronting long buried secrets regarding her past.
Zareer again collaborated with Dark Rain Entertainment
Dark Rain Entertainment is a Maldivian production company based in Male' producing Maldivian films. Established in 2006, the studio has produced the first Maldivian films shot entirely in HD, 3D and on DSLR.
History
The studio's first feature ...
in 2023 to write and direct the drama film '' Beeveema'' which revolves around the reunion of former students twenty-two years after their graduation and how this reunion changes the perspective of two childhood lovers about life and separation. Zareer's work as a director and writer was particularly praised where Ahmed Nadheem from ''Dhauru'' wrote: "screenplay of ''Beeveema'' is an overall advancement in terms of screenplay compared to other local productions. Zareer needs to be credited for establish a good chemistry between the two leads in two separate era with his style of story telling and dialogues". However, he criticized the filmmakers for calling the film an "inspiration" of Tamil film '' '96'' (2018) while it is a "frame-to-frame copy of the same": "The truth is that there is no film titled ''Beeveema'', rather a copied product, wasting the time, skills, money and resources". The same year, he worked with Ali Seezan
Ali Seezan (born 6 February 1977) is a Maldivian film actor, producer, director and editor. He has established a career in Maldives Film Industry and is a recipient of several awards, including two Gaumee Film Awards, and two Maldives Film Award ...
for his erotic thriller '' Loabi Vevijje'' which centers on a man who ends up becoming obsessed with a woman he has a one-night stand with.[ Although the film was initially announced in 2019 but faced delays due to the ]COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, it eventually opened to mixed reviews from critics. Ahmed Nadheem from ''Dhauru'' criticized its "slow-paced" screenplay and the inconsistent character arc. "the story has nothing new to offer, another lazy attempt at story writing".
Filmography
Feature film
Television
Accolades
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmed, Zareer
Living people
People from Malé
Maldivian film directors
Year of birth missing (living people)