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.

Dark Rain Entertainment
Company typePrivate
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedDark Rain Entertainment
Headquarters,
Maldives
Key people
Ali Shifau
Mohamed Ali
ProductsFilm production
WebsiteDark Rain Entertainment

History

The studio's first feature film production was Moomin Fuad's suspense thriller film Happy Birthday (2009) which narrates the story of a simple man who receives a call on his birthday informing him that his wife and son have been kidnapped, only to be returned for a ransom.[1] The film was a commercial failure, despite the positive response from the critics.[1] Winning five Gaumee Film Awards and twelve Maldives Film Awards, the film was also screened at the Venice Film Festival.[2][3]

The company then paced their production more into a commercial phase with the family drama Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa (2010) starring an ensemble cast including Yoosuf Shafeeu, Niuma Mohamed, Ali Seezan, Mohamed Manik and Ravee Farooq.[4] The film showcases discrimination against the islanders, family revenge and fatherhood responsibilities.[4] It received a positive response from critics for adopting a "unique approach in presenting the concept to the romance-starved Maldivian audience" was particularly noted and was believed to be a "huge improvement" compared to the recent Maldivian films.[1] Their next production venture was the psychological romantic thriller Zaharu (2011) starring Ali Seezan, Niuma Mohamed and Sheela Najeeb.[5] The film centers on a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end and becomes obsessed with him.[5] The film was inspired from Adrian Lyne-directed American psychological erotic thriller film Fatal Attraction (1987).[5] Upon release it received a mixed response from critics and was declared a "flop" at the box office.[1]

In 2013, they released the horror film Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D which serves as a prequel to Fathis Handhuvaru (1997) starring Reeko Moosa Manik and Niuma Mohamed in lead roles. It was based on a story by Ibrahim Waheed, Jinaa: Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun (2009), which itself is a prequel to the story Fathishandhuvaru (1996) written by himself which was later adapted to a film by the same name in 1997.[6] The film was marketed as being the first 3D release for a Maldivian film and the first release derived from a spin-off.[7][8] Upon release the film received generally negative reviews from critics.[9] The following year, Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq wrote and directed Hulhudhaan featuring Mariyam Majudha and Roanu Hassan Manik which garnered critical success and was later screened at the Venice Film Festival.[10][11]

In 2015, the studio produced two films. Their first release was the Ali Shifau-directed romantic film Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen (2015) starring Mohamed Jumayyil and Mariyam Majudha.[12] The film was declared as the highest grossing Maldivian film of the year, and was also a critical success.[13][14] Ravee Farooq was roped in to direct the suspense thriller film Mikoe Bappa Baey Baey which stars Mohamed Manik and Aishath Rishmy in pivotal roles.[15][16] The film along with his direction and performances were critically acclaimed.[17] It was one of the three entries from the Maldives at the 2016 SAARC Film Festival.[18]

The company collaborated with Ali Shifau, Mohamed Jumayyil and Mariyam Majudha for a romantic comedy film, Vaashey Mashaa Ekee (2016) which emerged as one of the highest grossing Maldivian film of the year.[19][20][21] The following year, the studio assigned Ali Shifau to release the romantic comedy film Mee Loaybakee (2017) starring Mohamed Jumayyil alongside Mariyam Azza.[22] The film emerged as one of the highest grossing Maldivian films of 2017.[23][24] This was followed by a family drama Vakin Loabin (2018), marking Shifau's fourth collaboration with Mohamed Jumayyil and his third collaboration with Mariyam Majudha.[25] The film tells a story of a young couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved.[26] Upon release, the film met with a positive response from critics, specifically praising the screenplay for toning down its melodrama and breaking from the stereotypes of its genre, and it was a commercial success.[27]

Films produced

Feature film

YearTitleDirector(s)Producer(s)CastRef(s)
2009Happy BirthdayMoomin FuadMohamed Ali[1]
2010Dhin Veynuge HithaamaigaaAli ShifauMohamed Ali[4]
2011ZaharuAli ShifauMohamed Ali[5]
2013Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3DAli ShifauMohamed Ali[9]
2014HulhudhaanAishath Fuad ThaufeeqMohamed Ali[10]
2015Emme Fahu Vindha JehendhenAli Shifau
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
[14]
2015Mikoe Bappa Baey BaeyRavee FarooqMohamed Ali[15]
2016Vaashey Mashaa EkeeAli Shifau
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
[20]
2017Mee LoaybakeeAli Shifau
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
[22]
2018Vakin LoabinAli Shifau
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
[27]
2019Goh RaalhuAhmed Sinan
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
[28]
2019MaamuiAli Shifau
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
[29]
2023BeeveemaAhmed Zareer
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
Mariyam Ashfa, Ismail Rasheed, Aminath Rashfa, Adam Zidhan[30]
2023HindhukolhehAli Shifau
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
Sharaf Abdulla, Aminath Rashfa, Ravee Farooq, Mariyam Majudha[31]
2023NovemberAli Shifau
Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
Mohamed Jumayyil, Mariyam Majudha[32]
2024FureythaAli Shifau
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
Sharaf Abdulla, Ravee Farooq, Mohamed Manik, Ahmed Saeed[33]
TBABalhindhuAhmed Sinan
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
Ali Azim, Aminath Rashfa, Mariyam Majudha, Nuzuhath Shuaib, Sharaf Abdulla, Ismail Jumaih[34]

Short film

YearTitleDirector(s)Producer(s)CastRef(s)
2007Badi EdhuruAli ShifauMohamed AliIsmail Rasheed, Abdulla Muaz, Ibrahim Jihad, Ravee Farooq, Aishath Siyadha, Nadhiya Hassan[35]
2008UmmeedhAli ShifauMohamed AliMohamed Manik, Ahmed Asim, Ibrahim Jihad, Hamdhoon Farooq, Sheela Najeeb[36]
2012VoodooAli ShifauMohamed AliAhmed Nashith, Ahmed Rifau, Umar Ashfaq, Ahmed Hafiz, Shifra Ilham, Abdulla Naseer[5]
2014KashfuAli ShifauMohamed AliIbrahim Jihad, Fathimath Fareela, Ahmed Saeed[5]
2020DhauvathuAli ShifauMohamed Ali
Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
Hoodh Ibrahim, Mariyam Shifa, Ahmed Sunie[37]
2020AnguruAli ShifauMohamed Ali
Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq
Aminath Silna, Roanu Hassan Manik[37]
2021GulhunAishath Fuad ThaufeeqMohamed AliAminath Shamana, Abdullah Shafiu Ibrahim, Aishath Rishmy, Ravee Farooq, Aminath Rashfa[38]

Television

YearTitleDirector(s)CastNotesRef(s)
2006DhafaraaMoomin FuadIsmail Rasheed, Liraru, Azwaru, Mariyam Rasheedha13 episodes[5]
2007ReyfanaaAli ShifauMohamed Manik, Niuma Mohamed, Ismail Rasheed, Roanu Hassan Manik, Fauziyya Hassan14 episodes[5]
2008InthihaaMoomin FuadNiuma Mohamed, Mohamed Manik, Sheela Najeeb13 episodes[5]
2008YaasmeenMoomin FuadMohamed Manik, Sheela Najeeb, Ahmed Saeed, Ahmed Nimal5 episodes[5]
2008FB!Ahmed SaeedAhmed Saeed, Ahmed Nimal, Fathimath Azifa, Ibrahim Jihad, Ahmed Asim, Ahmed Ziya5 episodes[5]
2008AsarugaaAli ShifauHamdhoon Farooq, Aminath Ameela, Roanu Hassan Manik, Aminath Shareef5 episodes[5]
2009SilsilaaAli ShifauAhmed Asim, Fathimath Azifa, Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi, Nashmee, Hamdhoon Farooq5 episodes[5]
2011NaamaanAli ShifauMohamed Manik, Niuma Mohamed, Ahmed Saeed, Mohamed Faisal4 episodes[5]
2021Rumi á JannatAli Shifau
Mohamed Faisal
Abdullah Shafiu Ibrahim, Nuzuhath Shuaib, Mohamed Faisal, Adam Rizwee, Roanu Hassan Manik, Maria Teresa Pagano, Sheela Najeeb, Ahmed SaeedWeb series; 15 episodes[39]
2021Giritee LoabiAli ShifauMohamed Vishal, Aminath Rashfa, Mohamed Manik, Mohamed Faisal, Adam RizweeWeb series; 20 episodes[40]
2022Dark Rain ChroniclesAli ShifauAdam Rizwee, Sharaf Abdulla, Ahmed Sunie, Aishath Yaadha, Ismail Rasheed, Fathimath Sara Adam, Mohamed Vishal, Ahmed Saeed, Aminath Aseela, Ali Shameel, Ahmed Shakir, Ahmed SharifWeb series; 6 episodes[41]

References