Ismail Wajeeh
Born (1962-09-20) 20 September 1962
Male', Maldives
OccupationActor
Years active1984–2001;
2017–present
Children5

Ismail Wajeeh (20 September 1962) is a Maldivian actor and choreographer.

Early life

While studying in primary school, Wajeeh, along with his nephews used to perform songs and stage shows to small gatherings.[1] While studying in grade 4, he was offered to be part of an English radio drama produced by the Voice of Maldives, titled "The Enormous Turnip".[1] During his secondary education, he played small roles in stage dramas as an extra.[1] In 1982, he got offered by the leading theatre performing group, Cultural and Drama Society (CDS) to be part of their group.[1]

Career

In 1984, while Wajeeh was working in Television Maldives, he meets the director Mohamed Hilmy, a friend of his brother, who asked Wajeeh if he is interested to be the lead actor of his upcoming film, Chuttee (1984), to which he agrees instantly.[1] In the film, he played a shady character which was well received by the critics and audience.[1]

The Mohamed Hilmy and Ali Waheed directed film, Ihsaas was released in 1993 in which Wajeeh starred as an orphan who is psychologically disturbed following a false arrest. His "genuine" performance received positive reviews from critics and resulted in winning a Gaumee Film Award for Best Actor. The next year, he starred in Ali Waheed-directed Kulunu where he played the role of a doctor who is forced to marry his childhood friend.[2] Mariyam Shauqee's widely acclaimed family drama television series Kahthiri was released in 1997; here Wajeeh played the role of a stay home husband, living in a congested housing complex while dealing with various social issues.[3]

In 2000, he appeared in two films; Hussain Shihab's drama film Rihun and Mohamed Ali Manik's Maazee alongside Jamsheedha Ahmed, Mariyam Nazima and Aminath Rasheedha which narrates the story of two best friends, a boy and a girl, who get separated at childhood and reunite as adults.[4] Ahmed played the role of underprivileged young man who turns into a successful person due to his hardwork and determination.[1]

The following year he starred as a widower in the Abdulla Sujau and Abdul Faththaah-directed family drama Ranmuiy (2001) which is centered on the dispute between a daughter and her step-mother.[1] The film was heavily marketed for its item song featuring himself and Indian actress Rajeshwari, which also marks the first international collaboration in the local industry.[5][6] Afterwards, he relocated to Singapore and disappeared in all local productions.

Sixteen years later, Wajeeh made a comeback in a special appearance with the Dark Rain Entertainment's production, the romantic comedy Mee Loaybakee (2017) followed by another of their comedy films Maamui (2019).[7][8]

Personal life

Apart from acting, Wajeeh served as the Assistant Principal in Jamaluddin School.[1] Afterwards, he started working as a program coordinator at Television Maldives.[1] He married a Singapore-Indian woman residing in Singapore and relocated to Singapore in 2001, hoping to provide better education for their children.[1]

Filmography

Feature film

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1984 Chuttee [1]
1993 Ihsaas Mohamed Unaiz Gaumee Film Award for Best Actor [1]
1994 Kulunu Rashidh [2]
1997 Heelaiy News presenter Special appearance [9]
1998 Huvafen
2000 Rihun Unaiz [1]
2000 Maazee Ahmed Imran [4]
2001 Ranmuiy Waheedh [6]
2017 Mee Loaybakee Ismail Special appearance [7]
2019 Maamui Jaguar [8]
2023 November Sam [10]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1997 Huvafaiy
1997–1999 Kahthiri Umar Main role; 38 episodes [3]
1998 Ehan'dhaan
1998 Raalhubaani Teledrama
1999 Hamaekani Dharifulhahtakai... Umaiz Teledrama
2000 Kashithanmathi Fareedh Teledrama
2021 Rumi á Jannat Sam Guest role; Episode: "Vaashey Mashaa Ekee" [11]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref(s)
1995 1st Gaumee Film Awards Best Actor Ihsaas Won [1]
Best Makeup Ihsaas (Shared with Mohamed Hilmy) Won [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rasheed, Ahmed (16 August 2018). "Wants to play an action movie: Ismail Wajeeh". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Gaumee Inaam 2001 - Aishath Shiranee". Presidency Maldives (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 Ali, Ifraz (1 October 2019). "Where are all the drama series?". Dho? (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 Ifraz, Ali (23 September 2018). "Wajeeh and Jamsheedha reunites at polling location". Avas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. ↑ "Juhi sprains an ankle". Rediff.com. 2 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  6. 1 2 Adhushan, Ahmed (23 January 2017). "Reminiscing international collaborations". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  7. 1 2 Adhushan, Ahmed (4 April 2017). "Dark Rain's Mee Laoybakee premiering tonight". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  8. 1 2 Adhushan, Ahmed (28 July 2017). "Maamui to be released as a feature film instead of a web series". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  9. ↑ Adhushan, Ahmed (5 May 2020). "A list of local copy films". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  10. ↑ Adhushan, Ahmed (22 July 2019). "Maju and Jumayyil return with another DRE project". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Luba, Aminath (1 January 2020). "Rumi a Jannat: A modern comedy". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
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