''Zaharu'' () is a 2011 Maldivian

psychological Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between t ...

romantic thriller A romantic thriller is a narrative that involves elements of the romance and thriller genres. A good thriller provides entertainment by making viewers uncomfortable with moments of suspense, the heightened feeling of anxiety and fright. A thril ...

film written and directed by

Ali Shifau Ali Shifau (born 19 May 1977) is a Maldivian film director, cinematographer and editor. One of the most successful filmmakers in Maldivian Cinema, Shifau is the recipient of a number of awards, including seven Gaumee Film Awards, and four Maldiv ...

. Produced by Mohamed Ali under

Dark Rain Entertainment Dark Rain Entertainment is a Maldivian production company based in Male' producing Dhivehi language, Maldivian films. Established in 2006, the studio has produced the first Maldivian films shot entirely in HD, 3D and on DSLR. History The studio ...

, the film stars

Ali Seezan Ali Seezan (born 6 February 1977) is a Maldivian film actor, editor, director and producer. He has established a career in Maldives Film Industry and is a recipient of two National Film Awards. Early life Ali Seezan was born on 6 February 1977. ...

, Niuma Mohamed and Sheela Najeeb in pivotal roles. The film is inspired from

Adrian Lyne Adrian Lyne (born 4 March 1941) is an English film director, writer and producer. Having begun his career directing 1970s television commercials, Lyne made well-received short films which were entries in the London Film Festival. He started mak ...

-directed American

erotic thriller The erotic thriller is a film subgenre defined as a thriller with a thematic basis in illicit romance or erotic fantasy. Though exact definitions of the erotic thriller can vary, it is generally agreed "bodily danger and pleasure must remain in ...

film ''

Fatal Attraction ''Fatal Attraction'' is a 1987 American psychological thriller film directed by Adrian Lyne from a screenplay by James Dearden, based on his 1980 short film '' Diversion''. Starring Michael Douglas, Glenn Close, and Anne Archer, the film centers ...

'' (1987). The film centers on a married man who has a weekend

affair An affair is a sexual relationship, romantic friendship, or passionate attachment in which at least one of its participants has a formal or informal commitment to a third person who may neither agree to such relationship nor even be aware of i ...

with a woman who refuses to allow it to end and becomes obsessed with him. The film was released on 5 May 2011. Upon release the film received mixed response from critics and was declared a "flop" at box office.

Plot

Hussain (

) is a successful, happily married interior designer whose work leads him to meet Shaheen ( Sheela Najeeb), a long lost friend. While his wife, Aminath ( Niuma Mohamed), and daughter, Shumakko (Fathmath Aflaz Faisal), are out of Male' for the weekend, Hussain has an affair with Shaheen. Though it was initially understood by both as just a fling, Shaheen starts clinging to him. Hussain spends a second unplanned evening with Shaheen after she persistently asks him over. When Dan tries to leave, she starts crying, he consoles her and leaves. He thinks the affair is forgotten, but she shows up at various places to see him. She comes to his office one day to apologize. She then continues to call him until he tells his secretary that he will no longer take her calls. One day she waits at his office, claiming that she is pregnant and plans to keep the baby. When Hussain opines to abort the baby, she cuts her wrists. He helps her bandage the cuts and then leaves. Hussain's colleague Adhil (Mohamed Faisal) breaks into Shaheen's apartment and discovered her lies about pregnancy. He also find a report which states Shaheen has been sentence to a mental asylum of

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

and she has been accused of killing her husband. She helps Aminath to catch a thief who stole her handbag and befriends with Aminath. The next day, Shaheen sends some photographs of Hussain and Shaheen taken that night, to his apartment. Shaheen then phones his home at all hours, claiming that she misses him. On Shumakko's dismissal time, Shaheen picks her up at schools and spends an evening hanging out. Anxious about her well-being, they informs police, while Shumakko returned home that night. Hussain immediately goes to Shaheen's apartment and confronted her. Hussain took a vacation with his family, but this does not deter Shaheen. When they are not at home, Shaheen breaks into Hussain's apartment, ripped off Shumakko's doll and applies wire in the water which gives Aminath an electric shock. After this, Hussain tells Aminath of the affair. Enraged, she leaves Hussain and moves to Adhil's house. After being counselled by her father, Aminath moves back to Hussain's house. Hussain took a leave from work and moves to K. Thulusdhoo with his family. Worried about his whereabouts, Shaheen meets Liusha (

Nashidha Mohamed Nashidha Mohamed is a Maldivian actress. Career Mohamed was first noticed by the owner of the production studio Corona Arts while he was attending an event held in Kulhudhuffushi, where she was performing onstage. Impressed with her appearance ...

), wife of Adhil, at a shop, hides her purse and befriend with her by paying for the groceries. From her, Shaheen finds about his whereabouts and goes to

Thulusdhoo Thulusdhoo ( Dhivehi: ތުލުސްދޫ) is the capital of Kaafu Atoll. The island is northeast of the country's capital, Malé. Geography The island is northeast of the country's capital, Malé Malé (, ; dv, މާލެ) is the capital ...

. Realizing Shaheen's intention, Adhil calls Hussain, but his phone was switched off and is out for a coffee with a friend. Shaheen barges into Aminath's apartment and attacks her, choking her and coming close to strangling her. Aminath breaks a glass vase over Shaheen's head and stops her for a while. After a moment of chasing they engaged in a scuffle only to be stabbed with the broken vase. Hussain comes and overpowers Shaheen. The final scene shows Shaheen at a mental asylum.

Cast

as Hussain * Niuma Mohamed as Aminath * Sheela Najeeb as Shaheen * Fathmath Aflaz Faisal as Shumakko *

as Liusha * Mohamed Faisal as Adhil * Abdulla Hussain as Abusy * Ahmed Saeed as Issey (special appearance) *

Mohamed Manik Mohamed Manik (15 October 1969) is a Maldivian film actor and director. Career 2002–10: Critical acclaim and breakthrough Manik rose to widespread prominence in the television industry and was applauded for his performance in a dual role, Ahmed ...

as Zareer (special appearance) *

Roanu Hassan Manik Roanu Hassan Manik is a widely acclaimed Maldivian film actor, who mainly works in the Maldivian film industry. Early life On 11 November 1977, while working as a Headmaster at educational centre, Manik produced, choreographed and starred in a t ...

as Aminth's father (special appearance)

Soundtrack

Accolades

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, tt1934488 2011 films Dark Rain Entertainment films 2010s romantic thriller films Maldivian romantic thriller films Films directed by Ali Shifau