''Kalaayaanulaa'' () is a 2003 Maldivian romantic film written and directed by

Fathimath Nahula Fathimath Nahula (born 22 June 1973) is a Maldivian film director, film producer and screenwriter. Early life In 1991, Nahula joined Jamaluddin school and worked as a teacher for four years. During the time, she spends most of her time in writin ...

. Produced under Mapa, the film stars

Yoosuf Shafeeu Yoosuf Shafeeu also known as Eupe (20 October 1975) is a Maldivian film actor, editor, writer, and director. One of the most successful filmmakers and actors in Maldivian Cinema, Shafeeu is the recipient of a number of awards, including eight Ga ...

Niuma Mohamed Niuma Mohamed (pronounced ; 20 October 1977) is a Maldivian film actress, director, and producer. The highest-paid actress in Maldives, Mohamed is the recipient of several awards, including two Gaumee Film Awards, and four Maldives Film Awards. ...

and

Aishath Shiranee Aishath Shiranee (born 16 January 1975) is a Maldivian former film actress. Shiranee is the recipient of several awards, including one Gaumee Film Award and three Aafathis Awards. In 2001, the Government of Maldives honoured her with the Nationa ...

playing pivotal roles.

Premise

Nashid (

) and Eenaz (

) are childhood best friends who get separated when Nashid has to move abroad. Despite having grown up and drifting apart, Eenaz continues to miss Nashid dearly. A decade later on her birthday, Nashid unexpectedly returns and shows up at her doorstep. After reconnecting, Nashid invites Eenaz to a reunion party with their old group of friends. At this party, Nashid introduces his wife Leena (

) to Eenaz, breaking her heart as she had fallen in love with him. However, she chooses to keep her feelings secret out of respect for her friend's marriage. Leena, who had previously gotten into a car accident was advised by her doctors to avoid pregnancy for three years. However, a year and a half in, Leena gets

pregnant Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops (gestation, gestates) inside a woman, woman's uterus (womb). A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Pregnancy usually occur ...

by avoiding taking her

birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

pills and unknowingly risks her life. Despite hers and Nashid's best efforts, Leena ends up having a

miscarriage Miscarriage, also known in medical terms as a spontaneous abortion and pregnancy loss, is the death of an embryo or fetus before it is able to survive independently. Miscarriage before 6 weeks of gestation is defined by ESHRE as biochemical lo ...

. Meanwhile, Eenaz's manager, Madhih (

Asad Shareef Asad Shareef (born 3 April 1964) is a Maldivian film actor and politician. Career 1982–2003: Acting career Shareef made his career debut with the film ''Beykaaru''. The film censorship process was completed on the night of scheduled date for t ...

), who had continuously

sexually harassed Sexual harassment is a type of harassment involving the use of explicit or implicit sexual overtones, including the unwelcome and inappropriate promises of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. Sexual harassment includes a range of actions fro ...

her at work, comes to her parents asking for marriage approval to taunt her further. Eenaz eventually agrees to marry him as she is desperate to move on from Nashid. 5 years later, Eenaz is trapped in a loveless, unhappy, and abusive marriage. Nashid's and Leena's life in the bedroom have taken a toll as Leena's health conditions post-miscarriage make it difficult for them to make love. They try many treatment options, but nothing seems to work. Eenaz discovers that Madhih has been having an extramarital affair behind her back and confronts him, angering Madhih. Nashid walks in on Madhih hitting Eenaz and rescues her. He offers her his support and helps her get a divorce from Madhih. He also offers her a job at his company as his personal secretary to help her get back on her feet. The two get closer once again and Nashid realizes that Eenaz loves him. He also realizes that he wants to keep her happy and safe. Eager to fulfill his needs in the bedroom, Nashid proposes a

polygamous Crimes Polygamy (from Late Greek (') "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marriage, marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is ...

marriage to Eenaz as he is unwilling to divorce Leena. After a lot of disagreement, Leena agrees to the arrangement vowing to get better treatment abroad to cure her condition. She meets and warns Eenaz that this arrangement would be temporary, and that Nashid would always prioritize her. Eenaz, despite knowing Nashid's intentions and that he may never truly love her decides to marry him regardless. As Nashid and Eenaz embark on their married life and engage in a mostly physical relationship, Leena goes abroad and seeks treatment determined to have Nashid all to herself once again. Just as Eenaz and Nashid start getting closer emotionally, Leena returns having cured her condition once and for all. This leads to Nashid spending most of his time with Leena, neglecting Eenaz. Eenaz, realizing that Nashid would never love her the way she does, decides to separate from him. She leaves Nashid to spend the rest of his life with his one true love Leena, after revealing to them that she is now pregnant with Nashid's child.

Cast

as Nashid, Leena and Eenaz's husband *

as Eenaz, Nashid's best friend turned 2nd wife ** Mariyam Enash Sinan as young Eenaz *

as Leena, Nashid's 1st wife *

as Madhih, Enaz's ex-husband * Ahmed Nabeel Mohamed as Leena's

gynecologist Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined area ...

* Mariyam Enash Sinan as Eenas, Eenaz's sister *

Aminath Rasheedha Aminath Rasheedha (born 27 February 1967) is a Maldivian actress and director. Career 1993–2006: Early releases and directorial debut In 1995, Rasheedha appeared in Mohamed Shiyaz's '' Dhushman'' which features Hussain Sobah, Mariyam Nisha and ...

as Zulfa, Eenaz's mother * Abdul Raheem as Eenaz's father * Abdul Satthar as Leena's father * Ahmed Saeed as Niyaa *

Arifa Ibrahim Arifa Ibrahim (born 22 June 1955) is a Maldivian actress, producer, director and writer. Early life Daughter of late Ibrahim Fulhu and late Fathma Fulhu, Arifa Ibrahim was born on 22 June 1955. She got married at the age of fourteen and is blesse ...

as Leena's mother *

Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi is a Maldivian film actress. Career Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi appeared in Abdul Faththaah's horror film ''Eynaa'', released in 2004, with Sheela Najeeb, Mohamed Manik, Ahmed Shah, Ibrahim Jihad and Nashidha Mohamed as one of si ...

(Special appearance in the song "Hee Samaasa Rattehinna") *

Ravee Farooq Ravee Farooq is a Maldivian actor, director, editor and choreographer. Career Farooq made his film debut with Abdul Faththaah-directed romantic disaster film, '' Hureemey Inthizaarugaa'' (2005) cast along with Mariyam Zuhura, Waleedha Waleed, Ib ...

as Sam (Special appearance in the song "Nudhaaney Mireyge Handhaanthah")

Soundtrack

Response

Upon release, the film received mainly positive reviews from critics. Hilath Rasheed reviewing from ''

Haveeru Daily Haveeru Daily (Dhivehi: ހަވީރ ދުވަހު ނޫސް) was the longest serving daily newspaper in the Maldives, established on January 1, 1979. History When local newspaper ''Moonlight'' ceased publication on December 9, 1978, Haveeru was reg ...

'' praised the performance by lead actors and "cleverness" of director Nahula for opening up "sexual impotency, a taboo subject for Maldivian society, for public debate and exploring the implications it has for marriage".

Accolades

References

{{Reflist 2003 films 2000s romance films Maldivian romance films Dhivehi-language films