Jadhulla Ismail

Jadhulla Ismail
Ismail handing over an award at 9th Gaumee Film Awards
Born (1979-03-20) 20 March 1979 (age 45)
GDh. Thinadhoo, Maldives
NationalityMaldivian
Occupation(s)Actor, fashion designer
Years active2002–present

Jadhulla Ismail (born 20 March 1979) is a Maldivian film actor and fashion designer.

Early life

Jadhulla Ismail was born on 20 March 1979 and hailed from a southern island of Maldives, GDh. Thinadhoo.[1] He was raised in a family where his sibling sisters had a passion for styling and dressmaking, which he credits for his inspiration to make his own design.[1] However, he had to face several obstacles and was proved to be a tough call for a little boy where societal norms looked down on those that defied gender norms.[1] Despite every challenges, he prevailed on his journey to chase his goal to be reputed fashion stylist in Maldives.[1] After relocating to Male', Ismail joined Maldives National Defense Force in 1998 and worked at MNDF for five years before joining Maldives Police Service.[1]

Career

Fashion designing

At the age of seventeen, Ismail started working a professional fashion designer and introduced his brand "Jaadhu".[1] He is acknowledged as one of the few designers in Maldives who has maintained a fashion brand.[1] While working at MNDF, Ismail received the opportunity to sew and design costumes for the entertainment shows and stage performances organized by them, which enabled him to showcase his talent to the public. Deemed as a skillful craftsman and hoping to hold a name of his own in the fashion industry, Ismail expanded his workshop into the film industry, where he styled and designed for several music videos, films and stage performances. He is known for his philanthropic acts where he has contributed to several fundraising event in Maldives by sewing, designing and styling all the clothes, free of charge for all the members participated in the fundraising stage events for 2004 Benefit for Tsunami Victims.

Anticipating to pursue a professional career in fashion designing, Ismail completed multiple designing courses in Sri Lanka and India. Accoladed as a pioneer in the Maldivian design industry, Ismail's areas of creativity span the broad spheres of cinema, design, styling and wedding attire.[2] Throughout the career, he has organized numerous training courses all around Maldives.[2]

In 2005, Ismail initiated a fashion show titled "Breeze" to showcase his design which was celebrated as the "most grand fashion" event held in Maldives by a solo designer, with 45 models and displaying a total of 145 unique designs to a large audience.[1] Two years later, he collaborated with Miss Universe Sri Lanka to design clothes for the pageant's competitors.[2] In 2009, he was awarded as the Best Fashion Designer in a local fashion show, Fashion Unlimited. Recognizing his passion for the industry and commitment to develop individuals with fashion sense, in 2011, the Government of Maldives honoured him with the National Award of Recognition for Applied Arts.[2] In 2013, he won the National Youth Award in Fashion Designing.[2]

Acting

He made his film debut alongside Yoosuf Shafeeu and Fathimath Azifa in Shafeeu's romantic drama film Neydhen Vakivaakah (2017), which was a critical and commercial failure.[3][4] In the film he played the role of Nizam, a simple and diffident young man who gets into a relationship with a cursed woman.[5]

The following year, he starred in the first Maldivian web-series, a romantic drama by Fathimath Nahula, Huvaa.[6] The series centers around a happy and radiant family which breaks into despairing pieces after a tragic incident that led to an unaccountable loss.[7][8] The series and his performance as an unfortunate lover were positively received by the critics and audience.[9][10]

He then collaborated with Shafeeu for his thirtieth direction Dhevansoora (2018), a suspense thriller film featuring an ensemble cast including Shafeeu, Mariyam Shifa, Ali Azim and Fathimath Azifa in pivotal roles.[11][12] Revolving around a murder investigating, he played the husband accused for the murder of his wife.[13] The film received positive reviews from critics and was considered a "norm-breaker" for the Maldivian cinema.[14]

Filmography

Feature film

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2010 Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa Himself Special appearance in the song "Annaashey Hinithun Velamaa" [15]
2017 Neydhen Vakivaakah Ahmed Nizam [3]
2018 Dhevansoora Mohamed Shiyam [14]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2018 Huvaa Manik Main role; 13 episodes [6]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref(s)
2007 Miss Universe Sri Lanka Best Fashion Designer Won [2]
4th Gaumee Film Awards Best Costume Design Zuleykha (shared with Laila) Won [16]
2009 Fashion Unlimited All Around First Place Won [2]
Best Casual Wear Won
Best Party Wear Won
2011 National Award of Recognition Applied Arts - Fashion Designing Won [2]
2013 National Youth Award Fashion Designing Won [2]
2015 6th Gaumee Film Awards Best Costume Design Yoosuf (shared with Razeena Thaufeeq) Nominated [17]
2021 ASIA Awards 2020/2021 Asia's Fashion & Lifestyle Face Award Won [2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jaadhulla Ismail has bagged Asia's Fashion and Lifestyle Face Award". Times of London. 7 January 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "National Award of Recognition 2011 – Jadhulla Ismail". Presidency Maldives (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b Adhushan, Ahmed (20 April 2017). "Maaen'boo's "Neydhen Vakivaakah" releasing on 27 September". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  4. ^ Adhushan, Ahmed (31 December 2017). "2017: Is it a successful year for the film industry?". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  5. ^ Mujuthaba, Ahmed (28 September 2017). ""Neydhen Vakivaakah" premiered; audience found it "okay"". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  6. ^ a b Adhushan, Ahmed (27 February 2018). "Huvaa: Nahula starts her web-series". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  7. ^ Musthafa, Mohamed (18 October 2018). ""Huvaa" is a hard work, it will be nice!". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  8. ^ Adhushan, Ahmed (7 October 2018). ""Huvaa" can be viewed through Baiskoafu application". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  9. ^ Musthafa, Mohamed (28 November 2018). "Nahula's "Huvaa" to be released for streaming tomorrow". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  10. ^ Musthafa, Mohamed (30 November 2018). "First episode of "Huvaa" was a success". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  11. ^ Adhushan, Ahmed (21 October 2017). ""Dhevansoora": A suspense thriller by Eupe". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  12. ^ Adhushan, Ahmed (29 November 2017). ""Dhevansoora" to release on February 6". Mihaaru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  13. ^ Fareeha, Aishath (4 November 2017). "Dhevansoora is a must watch". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  14. ^ a b Adam, Ahmed Hameed (8 February 2018). "Dhevansoora: Re-writing History of Maldivian Cinema". VNews (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  15. ^ Naseer, Ismail (18 February 2010). "Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa to release on April 5". Haveeru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  16. ^ Nadheem, Ahmed (30 December 2007). "Winners of 4th Gaumee Film Awards". Haveeru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  17. ^ Saeed, Fathimath (23 October 2015). "Majority of the awards for "Niuma", "Happy Birthday" announced as best film". Sun (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2018.