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.