Yaaraa
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 Vishaal, Ismail Jumaih, Shara Adam, Hussain Shadhyaan, Mariyam Waheedha and Nuzuhath Shuaib in main roles. The pilot episode of the series was released on 24 April 2023.

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.

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 Vishaal 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.
 Shara 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
 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.

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
 Aminath Rishfa as Zeyba
 Sharaf Abdulla as Eddy
 Aisha Ali as Nasha Ali
 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 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
 Ismail Rasheed as Ahmed Shafeeu
 Shahuma Ahmed as Riyaazaa
 Sofiyya Mohamed as Shiyaanaa
 Ahmed Shakir as Iqbal; Huya's third husband

Guest
 Hamid Ali as a customer
 Mariyam Shifa as 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
 Moosa Aleef as Shinaan's colleague
 Moosa Shinaan as Kokky; Shinaan's colleague
 Mariyam Ashfa as Sultan's wife
 Ahmed Ifnaz Firag as Ifnaz; Huya's first husband
 Ibrahim Ziyau Mohamed as Ziyau; Huya's second husband
 Maria Teresa Pagano
 Ali Azim as Riyaasha's date
 Mohamed Mazin
 Mohamed Aiman
 Aishath Ashla
 Joe
 Ahmed Ijlaal

Episodes

Development
Ahmed Iqbal embarked on the screenplay writing process for the film in 2016. Originally envisioned as a feature film, the concept later evolved into a web series spanning four seasons. 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. 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. 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. Apart from the greater Male' region, filming took place in K. Maafushi, Vaavu Atoll, Laamu Atoll and Crossroads. The project was completed in April 2023.

Soundtrack

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.

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.

References

Serial drama television series
Maldivian television shows
Maldivian web series