Ali Usam

Ali Usam
Nationality	Maldivian
Occupation(s)	Actor, model, host
Years active	2019–present (acting)

Ali Usam, commonly known as Dhona, is a Maldivian film actor, model and TV presenter.

Career

Usam began his professional career as a model in 2009 before starting to work as a host in several television shows.[1] He made his career debut in Ravee Farooq-directed web series Ehenas which follows the experiences of a long-term domestic and sexually abused male victim and how he faces the societal obstacles of marriage.[2] Aishath Maahaa reviewing from Dho? was generally impressed with the acting performance of the newcomers including Usam, though he had a very brief role.[3] He then played the role of a politician who is competing for a seat in People's Majlis, in Yoosuf Shafeeu's comedy drama series Huvaa Kohfa Bunan.[4] Mariyam Dheema reviewing from MuniAvas praised his acting skills and looks, and commented "with this role he has proved that directors can mold him to play any kind of role".[1]

In 2021, he again collaborated with Shafeeu for two projects; Avahteriya and Giridha, alongside Ibrahim Jihad, Ali Azim, Ahmed Zia, Aminath Noora and Ansham Mohamed. In the comedy series Avahteriya, he played the role of Raseem, a client who is manipulated to find his dream girl, while in the latter, he played the role of an aspiring screenwriter, who along with his two other friends scheme to influence their leaser to finance for their dream to work in the film industry.[5][6]

The following year he collaborated with Ilyas Waheed for two projects, including the four-part anthology web series Mazloom.[7] Mariyam Waheedha from Dhen praised the performance of Usam, while calling the chapter an "honorable conclusion" to a benchmark project.[8][9] This was followed by Azhan Ibrahim's crime thriller web series Dharaka (2022) which revolves around a high-profile case of the disappearance of a politician's daughter.[10][11] Reviewing the finale of the series, Ahmed Rasheed from MuniAvas considered the series to be an "excellent watch, if you are interested in good quality series".[12] The year marks his second collaboration with Ilyas Waheed for his horror thriller anthology web series Biruveri Vaahaka as Zedey, a traumatized survivor of a sea incident.[13]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
2019–2020	Ehenas	Nafiz	Recurring role; 22 episodes	[3]
2020–2021	Huvaa Kohfa Bunan	Arushad	Recurring role; 7 episodes	[4]
2021	Avahteriya	Raseen	Main role; 26 episodes	[6]
2021–present	Girlfriends	Faya	Recurring role; 5 episodes	[14]
2021	Giridha	Mafaaz	Main role; 15 episodes	[5]
2022	Mazloom	Aroosh	Main role in "Chapter 4: Hintha"	[8]
2022	Dharaka	Zayan	Recurring role; 4 episodes	[12]
2022	Biruveri Vaahaka	Zalif "Zedey"	Main role; Episode: "Mas Dhathuru"	[13]
2023	Hiy Kalaayah Edheythee	Mahid	Main role; 13 episodes	[15]
2023	Yaaraa	Dhona	Guest role; "Episode 1"	[16]
2024–2025	Raiha	Azeem	Main role; 12 episodes	[17]

References

1. Dheema, Mariyam (1 March 2021). "Dhona to play a significant role in "Huvaa Kofaa Bunan"". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
2. Adhushan, Ahmed (4 June 2020). "Ehenas Season 2: Premiere on 18". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
3. Maahaa, Aishath (17 July 2019). "Ehenas: A heart-wrenching series". Dho? (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
4. Rasheed, Ahmed (29 December 2020). "Huvaa Koffaa Bunan: An interesting and funny ride". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
5. Rasheed, Ahmed (29 August 2021). ""Giridha"'s to be streamed on September 7". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
6. Adam, Ahmed Hameed (12 June 2021). "Eupe's "Avahteriya" streaming on Baiskoafu". Avas. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
7. Adhushan, Ahmed (24 July 2021). ""Mazloom" is the Independence Day gift". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
8. Waheedha, Mariyam (14 February 2022). "A fair end to "Mazloom"". Dhen (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
9. Rasheed, Ahmed (28 July 2021). ""Mazloom" a benchmark project". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
10. Abdullah, Saajid (1 November 2021). "Web series "Dharaka" coming soon". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
11. Rasheed, Ahmed (15 March 2022). ""Dharaka" to be released on 8 April". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
12. Rasheed, Ahmed (20 June 2022). "Nisha's murderer revealed". MuniAvas (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
13. Rasheed, Ahmed (5 July 2022). ""Mas Dhathuru 1" - A prosper addition to the chain". MuniAvas. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
14. Adhushan, Ahmed (21 July 2021). ""Girlfriends" for Mahdi and Munko". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
15. Abdulla, Aishath Fareeha (28 March 2023). "MediaNet releases "Hiy Kalaayah Edheythee"". Dhauru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
16. 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 20 May 2023.
17. Mohamed, Naizak (24 November 2024). "Baiskoafu to premier 'Raiha' drama series next Thursday". Sun. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2025.