Abdul Faththaah

Abdul Faththaah Abdul Gayyoom (born 6 December 1971), commonly known as Abdul Faththaah is a Maldivian film director, producer, editor, screenwriter and choreographer.

One of the most successful filmmakers in Maldivian Cinema, Faththaah is the recipient of a number of awards, including four Gaumee Film Awards, and two Maldives Film Awards.

Abdul Faththaah was born on 6 December 1971 in Ha. Kelaa.

His father used to play the harmonium.

During his stay at Kelaa School, Faththaah participated in a stage narration of Maldivian classical romance novel, Dhon Hiyala and Ali Fulhu.

At the age of nine, he relocated to Male' with his family.

When he was studying at ninth grade, Mariyam Shauqee, a producer from Television Maldives offered him work in the inter-office teledrama competition.

Apart from writing the story, Faththaah played the role of a father in the drama.

Afterwards, he worked in several other teledramas; one of them featured actor Mohamed Manik alongside him.

After completing tenth standard, Faththaah worked in a resort.

Showing a lack of interest in the tourism industry, he moved back to Male'.

After his father's dismissal, Faththaah started working at the first Maldivian fast-food restaurant where he witnessed the "lavishing life" film actors use to be living.

"It was an era where film actors were highly recognised with their stylish and luxurious life. Dining at restaurants, travelling by cars, it was that moment I realized that I want to imitate their lifestyle".

Subsequently, he resigned from the restaurant and joined Maldives National Defence Force where he was in their service for six years.

In 1995, Faththaah wrote and directed Maldives National Defence Force's teledrama Veyn where he was bestowed with the Best Director award and he went on to win the award for a further two years.

Realizing his successful venture in film-making, Faththaah resigned from MNDF and joined the Maldives film industry.

He first directed a video single, "Dhan Dhan Dhanvaru" featuring Ravee Farooq and Niuma Mohamed.

This was followed by "Aaberu Toh Toh" and several other songs.

In 2000, he directed his first film Himeyn Dhuniye followed by Ranmuiy which was half-directed before he was roped into the project.

In 2000, Faththaah released his directorial debut, Himeyn Dhuniye which starred Mariyam Nisha and Ali Khalid as a couple having an extra-marital affair.

This was followed by Ranmuiy which was "half-directed" before he was roped into the project.

Directed alongside Abdulla Sujau, the film centers on the dispute between a daughter and her step-mother.

He rose to prominence in Maldivian cinema with the commercially successful and acclaimed romantic drama Aan... Aharenves Loabivin (2002), and the horror film Eynaa (2004) — for which he received the Best Editing award at the Miadhu Crystal Awards.

In 2002, Faththaah directed a romantic film Aan... Aharenves Loabivin which starred Ali Seezan, Sheela Najeeb, Niuma Mohamed, Aminath Rasheedha and Neena Saleem which follows an only child of a family who had a bitter relationship with her lovers and an unfortunate incident leading her to suffer from amnesia.

Upon release, the film opened to a positive response from critics and was a commercially successful project.

In 2004, Government of Maldives honoured him with the National Award of Recognition.

He is known for his romantically stylish film-making.

Realizing his potential, after a successful venture at an inter-office teledrama competition, Faththaah made his directorial debut with a video single, "Dhan Dhan Dhanvaru".

His next directorial venture was the horror film Eynaa (2004), in which appeared Sheela Najeeb, Mohamed Manik, Ahmed Shah, Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi, Ibrahim Jihad and Nashidha Mohamed as six colleagues who go on a picnic to a haunted uninhabited island and their battle for survival.

The film garnered critical appreciation especially for its technical department and was a commercial success.

The film fetched him the Best Editor award at Miadhu Crystal Award ceremony.

The following year, Faththaah released two films.

The film, heavily relied on the effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on the Maldives, narrates the journey a couple separated due to husband's greed for wealth and their reconciliation following a traumatic event which destroyed their family.

The film received favorable reviews from critics though it failed to perform financially.

He followed it by directing a commercially unsuccessful film Hureemey Inthizaarugaa (2005) and the award-winning film Vehey Vaarey Therein (2003) which earned him his only Gaumee Film Award for Best Director.

His first film, a romantic disaster film, Hureemey Inthizaarugaa (2005) featured a cast including Ravee Farooq, Mariyam Zuhura, Waleedha Waleed, Ibrahim Jihad and Neena Saleem.

After establishing his own production studio, Red Productions, Faththaah directed a television drama series, Hinithun Velaashey Kalaa and a romantic drama Vaaloabi Engeynama (2006).

His most successful film was released in 2010, the romantic horror film Jinni (2010) for which he received a Maldives Film Awards Best Director nomination, followed by another romantic horror film 14 Vileyrey (2011).

He received his second Gaumee Film Award nomination for Best Director with his romantic film Love Story (2012).

His next release, the family drama Aadheys (2014) received mixed reviews from critics while he announced his retirement with his commercially successful film Hahdhu (2017)