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 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. The film was a commercial failure, despite the positive response from the critics. Winning five Gaumee Film Awards and twelve Maldives Film Awards, the film was also screened at the Venice Film Festival.
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. The film showcases discrimination against the islanders, family revenge and fatherhood responsibilities. 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. Their next production venture was the psychological romantic thriller Zaharu (2011) starring Ali Seezan, Niuma Mohamed and Sheela Najeeb. 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. The film was inspired from Adrian Lyne-directed American psychological erotic thriller film Fatal Attraction (1987). Upon release it received a mixed response from critics and was declared a "flop" at the box office.
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. The film was marketed as being the first 3D release for a Maldivian film and the first release derived from a spin-off. Upon release the film received generally negative reviews from critics. 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.
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. The film was declared as the highest grossing Maldivian film of the year, and was also a critical success. 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. The film along with his direction and performances were critically acclaimed. It was one of the three entries from the Maldives at the 2016 SAARC Film Festival.
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. The following year, the studio assigned Ali Shifau to release the romantic comedy film Mee Loaybakee (2017) starring Mohamed Jumayyil alongside Mariyam Azza. The film emerged as one of the highest grossing Maldivian films of 2017. 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. The film tells a story of a young couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved. 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.
Films produced Feature film Year Title Director(s) Producer(s) Cast 2009 Happy Birthday Moomin Fuad Mohamed Ali 2010 Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa Ali Shifau Mohamed Ali 2011 Zaharu Ali Shifau Mohamed Ali 2013 Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D Ali Shifau Mohamed Ali 2014 Hulhudhaan Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq Mohamed Ali 2015 Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen Ali Shifau 2015 Mikoe Bappa Baey Baey Ravee Farooq Mohamed Ali 2016 Vaashey Mashaa Ekee Ali Shifau 2017 Mee Loaybakee Ali Shifau 2018 Vakin Loabin Ali Shifau 2019 Goh Raalhu Ahmed Sinan 2019 Maamui Ali Shifau 2023 Beeveema Ahmed Zareer Mariyam Ashfa, Ismail Rasheed, Aminath Rashfa, Adam Zidhan 2023 Hindhukolheh Ali Shifau Sharaf Abdulla, Aminath Rashfa, Ravee Farooq, Mariyam Majudha 2023 November Ali ShifauAishath Fuad Thaufeeq Mohamed Jumayyil, Mariyam Majudha 2024 Fureytha Ali Shifau Sharaf Abdulla, Ravee Farooq, Mohamed Manik, Ahmed Saeed 2024 Bibii Shahudha Mahmoodh Sharaf Abdulla, Mariyam Majudha, Sheela Najeeb, Ahmed Saeed, Aman Ali, Abdullah Shafiu Ibrahim
Short film Year Title Director(s) Producer(s) Cast 2007 Badi Edhuru Ali Shifau Mohamed Ali Ismail Rasheed, Abdulla Muaz, Ibrahim Jihad, Ravee Farooq, Aishath Siyadha, Nadhiya Hassan 2008 Ummeedh Ali Shifau Mohamed Ali Mohamed Manik, Ahmed Asim, Ibrahim Jihad, Hamdhoon Farooq, Sheela Najeeb2012 Voodoo Ali Shifau Mohamed Ali Ahmed Nashith, Ahmed Rifau, Umar Ashfaq, Ahmed Hafiz, Shifra Ilham, Abdulla Naseer2014 Kashfu Ali Shifau Mohamed Ali Ibrahim Jihad, Fathimath Fareela, Ahmed Saeed 2020 Dhauvathu Ali Shifau Mohamed AliAishath Fuad Thaufeeq Hoodh Ibrahim, Mariyam Shifa, Ahmed Sunie 2020 Anguru Ali Shifau Mohamed AliAishath Fuad Thaufeeq Aminath Silna, Roanu Hassan Manik 2021Gulhun Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq Mohamed Ali Aminath Shamana, Abdullah Shafiu Ibrahim, Aishath Rishmy, Ravee Farooq, Aminath Rashfa
Television Year Title Director(s) Cast Notes 2006 Dhafaraa Moomin Fuad Ismail Rasheed, Liraru, Azwaru, Mariyam Rasheedha 13 episodes2007 Reyfanaa Ali Shifau Mohamed Manik, Niuma Mohamed, Ismail Rasheed, Roanu Hassan Manik, Fauziyya Hassan 14 episodes2008 Inthihaa Moomin Fuad Niuma Mohamed, Mohamed Manik, Sheela Najeeb 13 episodes2008 Yaasmeen Moomin Fuad Mohamed Manik, Sheela Najeeb, Ahmed Saeed, Ahmed Nimal 5 episodes2008 FB! Ahmed Saeed Ahmed Saeed, Ahmed Nimal, Fathimath Azifa, Ibrahim Jihad, Ahmed Asim, Ahmed Ziya 5 episodes2008 Asarugaa Ali Shifau Hamdhoon Farooq, Aminath Ameela, Roanu Hassan Manik, Aminath Shareef 5 episodes2009 Silsilaa Ali Shifau Ahmed Asim, Fathimath Azifa, Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi, Nashmee, Hamdhoon Farooq 5 episodes2011 Naamaan Ali Shifau Mohamed Manik, Niuma Mohamed, Ahmed Saeed, Mohamed Faisal 4 episodes 2021Rumi á Jannat Ali ShifauMohamed Faisal Abdullah Shafiu Ibrahim, Nuzuhath Shuaib, Mohamed Faisal, Adam Rizwee, Roanu Hassan Manik, Maria Teresa Pagano, Sheela Najeeb, Ahmed Saeed Web series; 15 episodes 2021Giritee Loabi Ali Shifau Mohamed Vishal, Aminath Rashfa, Mohamed Manik, Mohamed Faisal, Adam Rizwee Web series; 20 episodes 2022 Dark Rain Chronicles Ali Shifau Adam Rizwee, Sharaf Abdulla, Ahmed Sunie, Aishath Yaadha, Ismail Rasheed, Fathimath Sara Adam, Mohamed Vishal, Ahmed Saeed, Aminath Aseela, Ali Shameel, Ahmed Shakir, Ahmed Sharif Web series; 6 episodes
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