Shivaz Abdulla commonly known as Maaskey (born 6 December 1981) is a Maldivian cinematographer and producer.

Early life and career

Shivaz Abdulla's journey into the entertainment industry was greatly influenced by his family's strong musical background, with his aunt Shafeeqa Abdul Latheef and cousin Mariyam Unoosha being notable figures in the field. His career trajectory began at a local shop called "Chaalee", where he dealt with music rolls and discs, igniting his passion for the industry. After three years there, he transitioned to "Audiomart", a well-known local studio, where he gained valuable experience in the world of filmmaking. During his six-year tenure at Audiomart, Abdulla had the opportunity to connect with various cameramen and producers, forming important relationships within the industry. During this period, he also participated in a workshop organized by

Television Maldives Television Maldives is the public service broadcasting TV channel of the Maldives. It was formed on March 29, 1978. In 2009, the management of Television Maldives (TVM) and national radio, Dhivehiraajjeyge Adu Voice_of_Maldives">nowiki/>Voice_o ...

, focusing on cinematography and film direction. Encouraged by his newfound knowledge and enthusiasm, he decided to leave his job and venture into the industry. Initially, he started as an assistant to film crews, helping with equipment and setup. Despite facing initial challenges and working in a technician's role, Abdulla persisted, closely observing the work of seasoned cameramen. His breakthrough came when he collaborated with

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 re ...

on a music album shoot, which garnered recognition within the industry. Abdulla commenced his career by working on smaller projects, including films like '' Dhanthura'' (2008), ''Seedhibe'' (2009), ''

Loabeege Ninja Ahmed Nimal is a Maldivian actor, director, editor, writer and producer. Early life Prior to acting in films, Nimal worked at Maldives Meteorological Service office. His interest in films and acting grew due to the influence of his colleagues inc ...

'' (2010) and for television series including ''

Soora ''Soora'' is a 2008 Maldivian drama film written and directed by Fathimath Nahula. Produced under Crystal Entertainment, the film stars Ali Ahmed, Amira Ismail and Aminath Ameela in pivotal roles. Premise Riyaz and Niyaz (both roles played by ...

'' (2008), ''

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'' (2009), '' Sirrun Hithaa Kulhelaafa'' (2010). In 2013, his career took a significant leap when he served as the cameraman for

Hussain Munawwar Hussain Munawwar (born 5 February 1998), commonly known as Kuda Foolhu is a Maldivian film director, cinematographer, producer and actor. Career In 2006, Munawwar starred as the character Kudafoolhu, a manipulative devil under the strict instru ...

's romantic thriller ''

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'' earning him a nomination for Best Cinematography at the

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. Another notable achievement came with

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's action film '' Ahsham'' (2014), for which he received the

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. Reviewing the film, Ahmed Nadheem from ''Avas'' praised Abdulla's cinematography, citing it as one of the film's standout features, stating, "It is worth mentioning the young talent in the industry, askeyfor his brilliant and unconventional cinematic effects". Abdulla continued to collaborate with

on '' Andhirikan'', where he not only handled the camera work but also served as a co-producer for the film. The film faced various challenges in the pre-production stage, and after only four screenings due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

Early life and career

Filmography

Feature film

Television

Short film

Accolades

References