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*Yaaraa*
Yaaraa
Written by	Ahmed Iqbal
Directed by	Aishath Rishmy
Starring	Aminath Rasheedha; Aishath Rishmy; Mariyam Azza; Ahmed Azmeel; Mohamed Vishal;
Narrated by	Aminath Namza; Inayath Ali;
Music by	Abdul Basith; Hussain Thaufeeq
Country of origin	Maldives
Original language	Divehi
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	50
Production
Executive producers	Mohamed Mirusan; Abdulla Hafiz;
Producer	Aishath Rishmy
Cinematography	Samaah Ibrahim
Editor	Aishath Rishmy
Production company	R2Z Productions
Original release
Release	April 24, 2023

Yaaraa is a Maldivian romantic comedy drama web series produced and directed by Aishath Rishmy. It features an ensemble cast including Aminath Rasheedha, Aishath Rishmy, Mariyam Azza, Ahmed Azmeel, Mohamed Vishal, Ismail Jumaih, Fathimath Sara Adam, Hussain Shadhyaan, Mariyam Waheedha and Nuzuhath Shuaib in main roles. The pilot episode of the series was released on 24 April 2023.^[1]

Written by Ahmed Iqbal, the series revolves around polar opposite lives of two sisters who are faced with the reality of relationships. The entirety of the series focuses on the hardships that teach the siblings what it takes to make and break the bond of a lifetime. This film stands as a remarkable achievement in Maldivian cinema, marking the highest number of actors ever featured in a film production, featuring over ninety actors in different roles.^[2]

Cast and characters

Main

Aminath Rasheedha as Zainab Ahmed; a devoted widow who lost her husband, Shareef, twenty-two years ago. With unwavering dedication, she serves as a loving mother to her two daughters, Raaya and Shaaya.
Aishath Rishmy as Raayaa; the eldest daughter of Zainab and a die-hard fan of Shah Rukh Khan. Ambitious and driven, she sees her life as a fairytale waiting to unfold. Raaya embodies empowerment, balancing her aspirations with a deep commitment to her family, making her a strong and family-oriented woman.
Mariyam Azza as Shaayaa; youngest child of Zainab, a highly maintained social media influencer and a successful model.
Ahmed Azmeel as Shinaan Rasheed; the ambitious and family-oriented husband of Raaya. As the eldest and only son in a family of four, Shinaan carries a strong sense of responsibility and strives to make his mark in the world.
Mohamed Vishal as Naail; the only son of a wealthy family who is well educated son despite his dream to be a musician. He is also the boyfriend of Shaaya whom he meets through his best friend Zak.
Ismail Jumaih as Zein Malik; a free-spirited individual who has been married twice and considers marriage as a trial. His professional life mirrors his unconventional approach.
Fathimath Sara Adam as Zaheena "Zak" Abdul Kareem; a spirited and tomboyish girl who thrives on engaging in thought-provoking arguments. Unafraid to challenge family and societal norms, she defies cultural expectations to embrace her independence and serve as a powerful role model for women.
Hussain Shadhyaan as Abdul "Kelly" Kaleem; the only child of a wealthy family who thrives on drama and craves attention. With a firm belief that marriage and settling down are not for him, Kelly embraces a lifestyle free from commitment, preferring to explore life's adventures without being tied down.
Mariyam Waheedha as Riyaasha; the adopted child of Zainab and an unfortunate lover.
Nuzuhath Shuaib as Aminath Rizwana; the sister of Shinaan and the best friend of Raaya. Rizwana holds a strong belief in arranged marriages and she embraces the idea of finding love through a more traditional approach.
Lamha Latheef as Aneesa "Annie" Fahumee (season 2); Shinan's ex-girlfriend who cheats on him with a rich man.
Ali Seezan as Rafkhan (season 2); Raaya's ex-boyfriend.

Recurring

Ahmed Asim as Fayaz; Shinan's best friend who is married to his high school sweetheart Gulfa. He is a womanizer and a narrow minded person.
Aishath Gulfa as Gulfa; Fayaz's wife.
Nathasha Jaleel as Huya Qasim; Raaya's colleague at gym
Aminath Rishfa as Zeyba; a rich and empowered businesswoman
Sharaf Abdulla as Eddy; a colleague of Zak
Aisha Ali as Nasha Ali; the love interest of Zein
Mariyam Haleem as Ruqiyya; an elderly woman and a friend of Zainab, who defies societal expectations with her lively spirit and social media prowess. Embracing her unique persona, she sees herself as a brand and enjoys flirting.
Zuleikha Manike as Sofiyya; an elderly woman and a friend of both Zainab and Ruqiyya, who is more invested in social media appearances and has a history of multiple failed marriages.
Ahmed Ishaar as Sultan Shakir; a wealthy entrepreneur and the boss of Shaaya.
Maleeha Waheed as Dhiyana "D"; Shaaya's colleague
Myeha Adam as Hudha Didi; Shaaya's colleague
Aminath Silna as Rimsha; Shaaya's colleague
Shaha Adhunaan as Ferlin Samadh; Shaaya's colleague
Ahmed Abaan as Bunty; Shaaya's colleague
Ali Nadheeh as Haisham; Riyasha's ex-boyfriend
Ismail Rasheed as Ahmed Shafeeu; Shinaan's boss
Shahuma Ahmed as Riyaazaa
Sofiyya Mohamed as Shiyaanaa
Ahmed Shakir as Iqbal; Huya's third husband
Moosa Aleef as Shinaan's colleague
Moosa Shinaan as Kokky; Shinaan's colleague

Guest

Hamid Ali as a customer
Mariyam Shifa as Shifa; Zein's first wife
Irufana Ibrahim as Zein's second wife
Aminath Rashfa as Zein's third wife
Ahmed Sunie as photographer
Ahmed Fizam as Fitte; Shaaya's ex-boyfriend with whom she separated for his humiliating dialect.
Ali Usam as Dhona; Shaaya's ex-boyfriend with whom she ends her relationship for his unhygienic manner.
Shimal Hameed as Shimal; Shaaya's ex-boyfriend with whom she cuts ties for posting a photo of her which she does not approve.
Ibrahim Sobah as Sobah; Raayaa's ex-boyfriend with whom she separated due to his outdated mindset.
Ismail Aziel Azumeel as young Shinaan Rasheed
Mariyam Ashfa as Sultan's wife
Ali Azim as Riyaasha's date
Ahmed Ifnaz Firag as Ifnaz; Huya's first husband
Ibrahim Ziyau Mohamed as Ziyau; Huya's second husband
Razeena Thaufeeq as Razee; Shaaya's designer
Mohamed Ishfan as Ishfan; Riyaasha's date
Mohamed Abdul Ghanee as an attendee of Zeyba's event
Bokitos as an attendee of Zeyba's event
Hassan Irufan as a musician in Zeyba's event
Maria Teresa Pagano as herself
Afnan Ibrahim as Afnan; Raaya's gym client
Aminath Muhusiana as Moonty
Mohamed Manik as Annie's boyfriend
Ilyas Waheed as an attendee of a film event
Abdulla Azman as a gym trainer
Aminath Aseela as a gym trainer
Dheena Ahmed as Jerry; Fayaz's customer
Ahmed Jillian Rashad as G; D's boyfriend

Episodes

Series overview

Season	Episodes	Originally aired
Season	Episodes	First aired	Last aired	Network
1	12	April 24, 2023 (2023-04-24)	July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)	Baiskoafu
2	14	October 5, 2023 (2023-10-05)	January 11, 2024 (2024-01-11)
3	TBA	March 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)	TBA

Season 1 (2023)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Original release date
1	1	"Episode 1"	Aishath Rishmy	April 24, 2023 (2023-04-24)
Zainab Ahmed (Aminath Rasheedha) a devoted widow who lost her husband, Shareef, twenty-two years ago, is excited for the wedding of her eldest daughter, Raaya (Aishath Rishmy), a die-hard Shah Rukh Khan fan and Shinaan (Ahmed Azmeel), an ambitious family-driven man. The wedding is attended by several of their friends, family members and colleagues.
2	2	"Episode 2"	Aishath Rishmy	May 1, 2023 (2023-05-01)
Three months after the wedding, Raaya and Shinaan lives their fairytale life, while her friend, Kelly and Huya believe its temporary. Shaaya is proud of her boyfriend, Naail (Mohamed Vishal), the only son of a wealthy family who is restrained by his parents' plans. Meanwhile, Zak (Fathimath Sara Adam), a spirited, independent woman and the best friend of Naail empowers him to chase his dream to be a musician.
3	3	"Episode 3"	Aishath Rishmy	May 8, 2023 (2023-05-08)
Zainab, her youngest daughter, Shaaya (Mariyam Azza) convince Raaya to chase her dream and sideline her responsibilities towards her family and instead focuses on her husband. Naail's friend, Zein (Ismail Jumaih), a free-spirited individual tries to brainwash Naail into believing that Shaaya is a bad influence on him.
4	4	"Episode 4"	Aishath Rishmy	May 15, 2023 (2023-05-15)
Six months after the wedding, Raayaa feels drained in their relationship due to the minimal efforts from Shinaan. The siblings and friends prepare for Zainab's birthday celebration.
5	5	"Episode 5"	Aishath Rishmy	May 22, 2023 (2023-05-22)
Kelly exacerbates the growing divide between Raayaa and Shinaan by highlighting Shinaan's perceived irresponsibility, while Rizwana adds to the tension with her traditional perspective. Sulthan attempts to influence Shaaya by emphasizing Naail's immaturity, yet Shaaya remains unfazed and unaffected by his opinions.
6	6	"Episode 6"	Aishath Rishmy	May 29, 2023 (2023-05-29)
Zak conceals her true emotions for Naail, while Riyaasha grapples with the complexities of her relationship with a married man, Haisham. Despite her friends' disapproval, Riyaasha finds solace in this connection, as it alleviates her sense of loneliness. On the other hand, Zein embarks on a new romantic journey with Nasha, a single cashier at a perfume store, who recently ended a decade-long relationship with her ex-boyfriend.
7	7	"Episode 7"	Aishath Rishmy	June 5, 2023 (2023-06-05)
Shaaya and Zak clash over workloads, while Raaya and Shinaan argue about family responsibilities but reconcile thanks to Rizwana's advice. In the midst of these conflicts, Kelly feels neglected among friends. Zein reassures Naail about Shaaya's happiness in their relationship.
8	8	"Episode 8"	Aishath Rishmy	June 12, 2023 (2023-06-12)
Shaaya is troubled by her conflict with Zak but struggles to admit her mistake. Shinaan attempts to have a candid conversation with Raaya, but she becomes defensive. Meanwhile, Zein begins dating Nasha as they get to know each other better, while Zak starts socializing with a new colleague named Eddy.
9	9	"Episode 9"	Aishath Rishmy	June 19, 2023 (2023-06-19)
Raaya and Kelly reconcile, and Shaaya and Zak celebrate the renewal of their friendship. During a conversation, Naail candidly shares his first impression of Shaaya, which surprises her as it differs from her own initial opinion.
10	10	"Episode 10"	Aishath Rishmy	July 3, 2023 (2023-07-03)
Zein is eager to fast-track their marriage plans, but Nasha prefers to delay until they know each other better. Shaaya plans a birthday celebration for Naail. While attending an event organized by the accomplished businesswoman Zeyba, Raaya find herself discussing Rafkhan, one of Raaya's past romantic interests.
11	11	"Episode 11"	Aishath Rishmy	July 10, 2023 (2023-07-10)
The group of friends and family embarks on a picnic outing. During the picnic, Shaaya is engrossed in taking portraits, while Raaya and Shinaan have a minor dispute over responsibilities. Ruqiyya and Sofiyya are occupied creating TikToks. Meanwhile, Kelly appears to be developing feelings for Zak but is too shy to express them openly.
12	12	"Episode 12"	Aishath Rishmy	July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
Shinaan plans an anniversary celebration with the assistance of Raaya's friends, which ends up causing some discontent with Raaya. Their disagreement escalates throughout the night, resulting in Raaya deciding to move out of the house.

Season 2 (2023–2024)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Original release date
13	1	"Episode 13"	Aishath Rishmy	October 5, 2023 (2023-10-05)
Raaya and Kelly engage in spying on Shinaan and become increasingly perturbed when Shinaan behaves surprisingly normal, attending work as if nothing unusual had happened. The rest of their friends gather to discuss how to resolve the situation. Shinaan's boss, Ahmed Shafeeu, expresses his dissatisfaction with the team's performance, resulting in a heated confrontation. Both Shinaan and Raaya allow their stubbornness to take the lead. Meanwhile, Naail begins experiencing disturbing dreams involving Shaaya and her boss, Sultan, in compromising situations.
14	2	"Episode 14"	Aishath Rishmy	October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
Raaya and Shinan grapple with a profound sense of loneliness and emptiness in their lives. Zeyba expresses her dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the penthouse design and construction, a project led by Shinan's team. Fayaz seizes the moment to inform Zeyba about the ongoing marital issues between Shinan and Raaya. Meanwhile, Ferlin subtly criticizes Shaaya, suggesting that Sultan favors her over others, leading to some tension among the group.
15	3	"Episode 15"	Aishath Rishmy	October 19, 2023 (2023-10-19)
Shinan's ex-girlfriend, Annie, joins Raaya's gym, making Raaya feel insecure. Zainab attempts to reconcile Raaya and Shinan during a family lunch, but it ends in a heated argument, leading Shinan to leave. Shaaya advises Raaya to reconsider and reunite with Shinan, but Raaya has a different opinion.
16	4	"Episode 16"	Aishath Rishmy	October 26, 2023 (2023-10-26)
Shinan reaches a point where he's ready to give up on his marriage with Raaya. Nasha, curious about Zein's past marriages, questions whether she truly understands his reasons for divorce. Ferlin takes a jab at Shaaya, insinuating an affair with Sultan and questioning the management's decision to award her as the best employee. Sultan helps Shaaya with a wardrobe issue and subtly suggests that Naail is possessive and manipulative, trying to influence her perspective.
17	5	"Episode 17"	Aishath Rishmy	November 2, 2023 (2023-11-02)
Rizwana attempts to mediate between Raaya and Shinan, but their discussions lead to no resolution. Shaaya advises Naail not to be jealous of Sultan, trying to reassure him. Naail, concerned about Zein's relationship with Nasha, arranges to meet her to discuss the way forward. Eddy and Zak open up to each other, sharing stories about their families and past romantic relationships.
18	6	"Episode 18"	Aishath Rishmy	November 9, 2023 (2023-11-09)
Following Rizwana and Fayaz's advice, Shinan joins Raaya's gym, but his efforts are hindered by Annie. Despite attempts to repair their relationship, the couple struggles to find a solution. Nasha, having reservations about her relationship with Zein due to their differing perspectives, decides to give it another try.
19	7	"Episode 19"	Aishath Rishmy	November 16, 2023 (2023-11-16)
The relationship advice from their friends proves ineffective in resolving Raaya and Shinan's issues. Meanwhile, Raaya starts talking and seeing her ex-boyfriend Rafkhan, much to Rizwana's disappointment. Sultan attempts to influence Shaaya by comparing his vision for her with Naail's efforts to support her dreams. Zak hesitates to progress further in her relationship with Eddy, fearing potential heartbreak.
20	8	"Episode 20"	Aishath Rishmy	November 30, 2023 (2023-11-30)
The episode kicks off with relationship conflicts: Raaya prioritizing Rafkhan over Shinan, Shaaya neglecting Sultan to focus on her treatment with Naail, and Zak navigating her recent relationship with Eddy alongside her enduring love for Naail and the unrequited affection from Kelly. Meanwhile, Rafkhan attempts to reassure Raaya that Shinan is safe from Anny's influence.
21	9	"Episode 21"	Aishath Rishmy	December 7, 2023 (2023-12-07)
Ferlin takes another jab at Shaaya, but she gives a befitting reply. Shaaya introduces Naail and Zein to D, who is going through a breakup. Later, Shaaya and her friends gear up for Naail's birthday celebration. Shinan and Raaya engage in a normal and casual conversation without any conflict.
22	10	"Episode 22"	Aishath Rishmy	December 14, 2023 (2023-12-14)
Shaaya's appointment as the brand ambassador of the gym creates a challenging situation for Anny with the new customer clientele. Shaaya organizes an elegant and grand birthday celebration, attended by close friends and their partners. Nasha delivers a reality check to Zein about his small-mindedness and treatment of others, ending their relationship due to her fear of attachment. The day concludes with Naail celebrating his birthday with Zak in their traditional style.
23	11	"Episode 23"	Aishath Rishmy	December 21, 2023 (2023-12-21)
Raayaa overhears Anny planning a trip to Maafushi with Shinan, prompting her to join Shaaya and friends on the island to spy on them. Zein receives a reality check for her bullying behavior. Raayaa disrupts Shinan and Anny's private dinner, and Annya suggests to Shinan that he should consider divorcing Raayaa and moving on with his life.
24	12	"Episode 24"	Aishath Rishmy	December 28, 2023 (2023-12-28)
Anny confirms to Raayaa that she is not in a relationship with Shinan. Despite Raayaa believing her narrative, her close friends hold different opinions. Shaayaa boasts about Sultan's wealth, causing discomfort for Naail. Nasha decides to break up with Zein.
25	13	"Episode 25"	Aishath Rishmy	January 4, 2024 (2024-01-04)
As everyone celebrates Eid, the festive atmosphere provides an opportunity for Raayaa and Shinan to delve deeper into their marital issues. Meanwhile, Naail confides in Zak about his plan to propose to Shaayaa, eliciting mixed emotions from Zak.
26	14	"Episode 26"	Aishath Rishmy	January 11, 2024 (2024-01-11)

Season 3 (2024)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Original release date
27	1	"Episode 27"	Aishath Rishmy	March 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)

Development

Ahmed Iqbal embarked on the screenplay writing process for the film in 2016.^[3] Originally envisioned as a feature film, the concept later evolved into a web series spanning four seasons.^[3]^[4] Filming for the project commenced in 2020; however, production was abruptly halted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a temporary suspension of filming activities.^[3] The project was officially announced on 28 May 2020 through an Instagram live hosted by director Aishath Rishmy, revealing most of the cast of the series.^[5] In the initial stage, the project was revealed to be co-directed with Ravee Farooq, however, Rishmy later confirmed the project with minimal changes in cast and production seat.^[6] Apart from the greater Male' region, filming took place in K. Maafushi, Vaavu Atoll, Laamu Atoll and Crossroads.^[7] The project was completed in April 2023.^[7]

Soundtrack

Track listing
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Singer(s)
1.	"Kulathah Chaalu"	Mohamed Abdul Ghanee	Barchie	Mariyam Rifqa Rasheed
2.	"Beynun Vanee Yaaraa" (original song by Ahmed Amir)	Mohamed Abdul Ghanee	Barchie	Mariyam Rifqa Rasheed, Mariyam Ashfa
3.	"Sirru Sirrun"	Mohamed Abdul Ghanee	Barchie	Mohamed Maisaan (Bokitos)
4.	"Aadhey Yaaraa Aadhey"	Mohamed Abdul Ghanee	Hassan Jalaal	Mariyam Rifqa Rasheed, Mariyam Ashfa, Mohamed Abdul Ghanee, Aishath Juni Jinah, Abdullah Fareedh, Hassan Jalaal

Release and reception

The first episode of the series was released on 24 April 2023 through Baiskoafu while the first two episodes of the series was simultaneously premiered on Olympus Cinema.^[8]

Alim Abdul Latheef from Sun rated the first two epsisodes highly and wrote: "The series revolves around the intricate dynamics of relationships between spouses, family members, friends, and colleagues. The characters were introduced in an enticing and captivating manner, capturing the audience's attention from the very beginning". Apart from the cinematography, writing and direction, Azza's performance as Shaaya was highlighted by Latheef as the best thing from the series.^[9]

References

^ Arusham, Ahmed (25 April 2023). ""Yaaraa": streaming of Baiskoafu after a colorful premiere". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ Latheef, Alim Abdul (25 April 2023). "Yaaraa series available for streaming". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Waheedha, Mariyam (9 April 2023). ""Yaaraa" releasing this month". Dhen (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ Nadheem, Ahmed (21 April 2023). "Rishmy paints color on Yaaraa's portrait". Dhauru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ Mohamed, Nabeel (28 May 2020). "Rishmy from R2Z is working on a big project". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ Rasheed, Ahmed (4 February 2022). "Rishmy revealed "Yaaraa"". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ ^a ^b Rasheed, Reeaan (9 April 2023). ""Yaaraa" releasing this month". Vaguthu (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ Adhushan, Ahmed (25 April 2023). "Yaaraa premiered on Baiskoafu". Addu Live (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ Latheef, Alim Abdul (25 April 2023). "No space for criticizing; Yaaraa deserves a 100". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.