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.

Maldivians on Mountains screened for sponsors

TVM today screened a preview of Maldivians on Mountains for representatives of major businesses and potential sponsors now have three days to confirm sponsorship of the series, which starts airing this Thursday at 2200 hours.

The invitees seemed to enjoy the preview and one of them even asked Narcu to act in a commercial!

We're hopeful they'll support the broadcast of Maldivians on Mountains, so that we can continue to make films like these.

Mariyam Waheeda to host Maldivians on Mountains

Top TV presenter Mariyam Waheeda will host Maldivians on Mountains, the first episode of which will be aired at 2200 hours on 15 July 2010. Check out the latest trailer featuring Mari here.

The four-part series, our first collaboration with TVM, is in the last stages of pre-production. Ahmed Nasheed of Zero Degree Atoll has composed an excellent score for the series, his best for Hulhevi Media so far, according to Narcu.

Maldivians on Mountains to premier on TVM

Hulhevi Media's Maldivians on Mountains is to premier on TVM this July, as a four-part TV series to be hosted by ace TV presenter Mariyam Waheeda. Catch the new trailer currently being shown on TVM here.

Maldivians on Mountains will follow the adventures of Olympic swimmer Ahmed Imthiyaz (Freddy) and our own filmmaker Ahmed Shafeeu (Narcu) as they train and trek from sea-level to the foot of Mount Everest.

Ahmed Nasheed of Zero Degree Atoll is scoring the series.

Meanwhile our second major production of the year The Zero Degree Challenge, a 16-minute short on Olympic rower Guin Batten's solo crossing of the equatorial channel of the Maldives, premiered at the Hay Festival in the UK in May and is now awaiting general release.

Short preview of Guin Batten's solo Equator crossing

We've just uploaded a short preview of a documentary we're editing of UK and Olympic rower Guin Batten's historic solo crossing of the Zero Degree Channel of the Maldives, between South Huvadhoo and Foah Mulah. Here's the YouTube link.

The Maldives has its own long tradition of rowing. People of Foah Mulah, for instance, used to row across the Equator in the past, even the longer One and Half Degree Channel. But no one is recorded as having crossed the Equatorial Channel of the Maldives solo, so Guin's feat is a landmark for rowing in the Maldives.

Women of Gahdhoo, in South Huvadhoo Atoll, even now row twice a week to their farms on the uninhabited island of Gan.

Not surprisingly, Guin got a warm welcome from the people of the area, especially Vaadhoo, from where she set off, Foah Mulah and Gahdhoo. The event also sparked interest among women and men in rowing and the newly formed Rowing Association of the Maldives, based on Thinadhoo, has big plans to develop the sport.

Hulhevi Media is hoping to complete the full documentary in May.

Maldivians on Mountains inspires more Maldivians to Everest

Nine young Maldivians have set off on a spring trek to Mount Everest Base camp, after seeing a preview of Hulhevi Media's Maldivians on Mountains. This is the largest known Maldivian team to attempt the famed second most popular trek in the Nepal Himalaya. You can follow their adventure on their blog kaalhuguibangaalhu.

The first known ascent of Kala Pattar (5,300 metres), the highest point of the trek, was by three young Maldivian women, followed by Maldivian men in 1994, 2005, and 2009. So far, three women and four men from the Maldives are known to have summitted Kala Pattar.

In this image from Maldivians on Mountains, Olympic swimmer Ahmed Imthiyaz ascends Gokyo Peak above the beautiful third lake. Maldivians on Mountains is currently in post-production and Hulhevi Media is also exploring the possibility of serialising the footage filmed for national TV.

Please remove this billboard

This billboard appears on one of the most crowded streets of Male.

Instead of representing the little girl in this image as a child, the designers appear to have made her strike a pose of a much older woman, a seductress. Although the costume worn by the little girl may seem more suited to seedy nightclubs, it is a fact that Maldivian parents often dress up their little ones in fluffs and feathers.

In this particular picture, the little girl is made to lie on a couch with her head tilted suggestively and her legs parted slightly (this part is strategically positioned in the centre of the frame).

Although this billboard is probably an extreme example it, nevertheless, is representative of a media culture in which children are often dressed up as adults and highly-sexualised. The annual TVM school song competition is a case in point with under-five-year-olds often dressed up as much older pop stars. Cameramen then tilt their cameras slowly over the bodies of the children, in what can be regarded as visual caressing.

Hulhevi Media calls for the removal of this billboard, and also takes this opportunity to ask our colleagues in the media industry to adopt ethical standards that have clear guidelines on the representation of children.

"Steroid the civil service"

At a time of intense debate around the civil service, "Steroid the Civil Service" is an outrageous project designed by Avahaara Ganduvaru's indomitable Dr. Dhon, the scientist brought in by the government to infuse life into its lethargic civil service. Don't miss the third and final part of Hulhevi Media's comedy pilot, which contains the wickedest bits yet. And don't stop viewing after the end credits, there's more!

Hulhevi Media meant to push the envelope of Dhivehi comedy and the boundaries of what is acceptable in Maldivian television with this pilot and, in retrospect, perhaps we pushed too far. Although there's much talk of the broadcast media being more liberalised in effect the show is still run by the same people who kept it in check all these years. Imagine their shock when confronted by something as rude as Avahaara Ganduvaru!  But we had great fun making the show and hope viewers enjoy the results.

Avahaara Ganduvaru Pilot Part 3.

Avahaara Ganduvaru Part 2 uploaded

Avahaara Ganduvaru part two has just been uploaded.

Here's the link:

Avahaara Ganduvaru Pilot Part 2

Avahaara Ganduvaru comedy pilot premieres on YouTube

The pilot episode of HulheviMEDIA's planned sketch comedy series Avahaara Ganduvaru, satirising the political and social landscape of the Maldives in the immediate aftermath of the historic 2008 presidential elections, is premiering on YouTube after failed negotiations with two of the country's broadcasters. To be released in 3 parts, Avahaara Ganduvaru will be uploaded around midnight Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Avahaara Ganduvaru was made in the first half of 2009 and boasts the talents of a bunch of enthusiastic young first-timers. Narcu, Al, and the wonderful cast had a great time making Avahaara Ganduvaru and now want to share it with all Maldivians.

Avahaara Ganduvaru Pilot Part 1

Annular solar eclipse in high-definition

Hulhevi Media are pleased to upload today's annular solar eclipse, filmed on Hulhumale, an island suburb about 3 kms north the Maldives capital Male. The day started off sunny and bright but clouds started gathering shortly before the eclipse. However, the cloud cover also added drama to the eclipse, which happened during Friday prayers. 

Please check out the eclipse on YouTube.

Maldivians on Mountains

HulheviMEDIA has just released a preview of its latest film Maldivians on Mountains, now in post production, on YouTube. The film, shot on HD, follows Olympic swimmer Ahmed Imthiyaz (Freddy) and our own resident producer and director Ahmed Shafeeu (Narcu) as they trek in the foothills of the Nepal Himalaya to Mount Everest.

Interesting bits to watch out for:

1:08: First view of Mount Everest, half covered in the blanket of cloud, shot in Tengboche (3,700m)

1:13: Halfway up Kala Pattar (5,600m), where the Nepali cabinet held its famous meeting a week after we summited. The black peak in the background is Mount Everest.

1:16: Ahmed crossing the snowbound Cho La mountain pass (5,300m).

1:18: Narcu heaves himself up the final boulder to summit Kala Pattar. 

1:22 Ahmed summitting Gokyo Peak (5400m), the turquoise Second and Third Lakes and the famed Ngozumpa Glacier, the longest in the Himalaya, below him.

1:33 Three of the world's 14 eight thousand metre peaks behind Ahmed: (left to right) Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu, respectively world's highest, 4th and 5th highest mountains.

Beynun Viyas premieres nationwide today

The first HulheviMEDIA release Beynun Viyas Vaakah Nethey (The Desire That Cannot Be Realised), a music video for Hiyani (Band) will be aired today on all the Maldivian networks. We uploaded a one-minute trailer on YouTube a few days ago. Now you can watch the full song.

The Hiyani (Band) trio, Amir, Loreef and Marco had a very specific look in mind for the video when they met Narcu and Al nearly two weeks ago to discuss its production. We hope we have achieved their requirement for them.

The first cut was previewed in full HD glory, but the video has now been downcoverted for broadcast here in the Maldives. For the people who saw the original version, the broadcast version will be a considerable letdown. The good news is we can still preserve the video in HD quality.

Meanwhile good news also on Avahaara Ganduvaru; a private broadcaster has commissioned us to produce 13 episodes and all contractual formalities will be finalised shortly.

Beynun Viyas music video

HulheviMEDIA have just produced a brand new music video for the Maldivian Hiyani (Band), to be released on 3rd July 2009. The song has Ahmed Amir of MAARStudio performing with newcomers Loreef and Marco. 

Beynun Viyas will be our first production to be broadcast since we changed from Club Hulhevi to HulheviMEDIA. 

Our collaborations with Ahmed Amir include Heyva Heyva, Aadheys, and Vehey Iru. 

A sneak preview of Beynun Viyas can be found on YouTube, as well as other music videos.

Meanwhile, our comedy show Avahaara Ganduvaru is awaiting the green signal from a private broadcaster.