Trailer of our first Nepali co-production

Nepali actors Umesh Ghorsaini and Reecha Palikhe star in Nagarjuna, Hulhevi Media's first co-production with Nepal's Chhaproma Studios. Written by Al, the screenplay was originally based in the Maldives and intended to have a Maldivian cas,t but the film never materialised. Now completed the short film will form part of a trilogy called Chhaproma which will hopefully premier this year.

Check out the trailer here:

Nepali actors play Maldivian characters in short film

Umesh stands on the edge of Kakani top, Nepal, in this image-grab from a film originally meant to be shot in the Maldives.

Hulhevi Media are collaborating with Chhaproma, a Nepali production house, to make a short film based on the Maldivian script. Al, who wrote the original screenplay with Narcu, has adapted it to a Nepali setting with the help of Rajan and Kshitiz of Chhaproma.

The story follows a day in the life of a young man, Ram, who claims it is his last day on earth, and invites his ex-girlfriend Zena and buddy Baucha to spend the last hours with him.

Although two Maldivians auditioned for the part of Ram (called Maz in the Maldivian version) along with two others for the roles of Baucha (Hamd in the Maldivian screenplay) and Zena, respectively, the film never got made in the Maldives because circumstances simply didn't allow it.

This is the first production in which Al will just help the DOP, Shail, instead of photographing the film himself. Dipesh is the producer and Rajan is directing.

Al and his Nepali team have just completed a hectic shooting schedule, including a non-stop eight hour stint on Kakani top.

The Nepali actors have given intense performances and the film should be completed some time in May. More image grabs and, hopefully, YouTube clips will follow.

Hulhevi in the Himalaya

Hulhevi Media has a special relationship with Nepal. We've shot two of our productions in the Nepal Himalaya, Himalayan Dreams (2006) and the four part TV series Maldivians on Mountains (2010). Himalayan Dreams and an earlier documentary Unbelievable Realities (2003) have both been officially selected at international film festivals in Nepal. In continuing with the trend 75 percent of the Hulhevi Team were in Nepal in the New Year trekking in the Langtan Gosaikund area. This is Shaari's first visit to Nepal, the Himalaya, and an altitude of over 4,000 metres. Here in the pic he and Narcu, who trekked to Kala Pattar in 2009, pause to catch their breath in the beautiful alpine forest above Dunche. They were joined on the trek by Al, who is currently living in Nepal. Hulhevi is exploring joint productions with Nepali filmmakers, including one on global warming which may be causing sea-level rise in the Maldives and glacial melting in the Himalaya.

Geveshi Hiyaa, on YouTube

Hulhevi Media, in collaboration with UNFPA and NGOs and individuals working against domestic violence, are pleased to announce our latest addition to the public service music videos that represent our work so well.

Geveshi Hiyaa (now on Youtube), shot on Bilehdhoo, is a short music video that looks at domestic violence and follows in the tradition of our earlier works Heyva Heyva, Vehey Iru, and Thedhekey Thedhekey.

The music video was screened to launch the Thinakun Ekeh (One in Three) anti-domestic violence campaign on 25 November, the international day for the elimination of violence against women. The campaign takes its name from the groundbreaking 2007 study which revealed that 1 in 3 Maldivian women aged 15-49 experience physical or sexual abuse at least once in their lifetime. Police and IGMH records confirm that violence against women is highly prevalent in the Maldives, ranging from the sexual abuse of underaged girls to severe beating and violent gang rape.

Hulhevi Media is working with the Thinakun Ekeh campaign to draw attention to the issue and to lobby policy makers to come up with good legislation to combat violence against women.

New music video huvafen

Hulhevi Media are working on a new music video Huvafen, featuring newcomer Mode and dancer Sama. Shot on location on Hulhumale the song is a tribute to epic romantic stories in the tradition of Dhon Hiyala and Alifulhu, the Maldives answer to Romeo and Juliet.

Most of the shooting is done and we only have a few hours of work left, just waiting for a sunny day now!

Maldivians on Mountains concludes this Thursday

HulhevMEDIA has just finished filming presenter Mariyam Waheeda (pic) for the fourth and final episode of Maldivians on Mountains, to air this Thursday on TVM.

Narcu and Al enjoyed working with the TVM team, especially Mari, Naanu, and Bokittey.

New Maldivians on Mountains trailer

Episode 1 of Maldivians on Mountains has aired on TVM and Youth TV, making many people want to go on the famed Everest trek in the Nepal Himalaya.

The trek consists of three main challenges: Kala Pattar (5,600m) the highest point to climb; Cho La Pass (5,368m), a difficult, slippery mountain pass; and Gokyo Ri (5,463m) above the beautiful Gokyo lake.

In the image, Freddy and Narcu are halfway up Kala Pattar, roughly at around the location where the Nepali cabinet held a meeting to draw the world's attention to the issue of glacial melting. Mount Everest, the black mountain peeping in the background, reveals itself in the background as you climb Kala Pattar.

Not everyone is able to complete all three challenges, as Maldivians on Mountains shows.

Click here to catch the latest YouTube trailer.

Maldivians on Mountains airs on Thursdays at 2200 hours on TVM.