{{short description|2021 Maldivian film}} {{Infobox film | name = Balhindhu | image = Balhindhu.jpg | caption = Official film poster | director = Ahmed Sinan | producer = Mohamed Ali<br/>Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq | screenplay = Hood Ibrahim | writer = Hood Ibrahim | starring = Ali Azim<br/>Aminath Rashfa<br/>Mariyam Majudha<br/>Nuzuhath Shuaib | cinematography = Ali Shifau<br/>Adam Waseem | editing = Ahmed Sinan | music = Fathuhullah Shakeel Hussain | studio = Dark Rain Entertainment | distributor = | released = | runtime = | country = Maldives | language = Dhivehi }} '''''Balhindhu''''' is an upcoming Maldivian horror film directed by Ahmed Sinan. Produced by Mohamed Ali and Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq under Dark Rain Entertainment, the film stars Ali Azim, Aminath Rashfa, Mariyam Majudha, Nuzuhath Shuaib, Sharaf Abdulla and Ismail Jumaih.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/67824 |title=Filming commences for Balhindhu |work=Mihaaru |language=Divehi |last=Adhushan |first=Ahmed |date=19 January 2020 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200910154808/https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/67824 |url-status=live |archivedate=10 September 2020 |access-date=10 September 2020 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
== Cast == * Ali Azim * Aminath Rashfa * Mariyam Majudha * Nuzuhath Shuaib * Sharaf Abdulla * Ismail Jumaih * Hunaisha Adam Naseer * Aisha Ali * Fathimath Latheefa * Mariyam Shakeela * Mohamed Mazin
==Production== ===Development=== In September 2019, as Dark Rain Entertainment celebrated its thirteenth anniversary, the studio unveiled the project ''Balhindhu'', marking the third directorial venture of Ahmed Sinan.<ref name=Intro>{{cite news|url=https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/61840 |title=Shooting all ready for Balhindhu |work=Mihaaru |language=Divehi |last=Adhushan |first=Ahmed |date=25 September 2019 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200910153647/https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/61840 |url-status=live |archivedate=10 September 2020 |access-date=10 September 2020 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The film faced several challenges during its pre-production stage.<ref name=DRE14/> A year after the project's announcement, the crew disclosed that only fifteen percent of the project had been completed.<ref name=DRE14>{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/32076 |title=Projects of DRE going on full speed |work=MuniAvas |language=Divehi |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=25 September 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216144129/https://www.muniavas.com/32076 |url-status=live |archivedate=16 December 2023 |access-date=16 December 2023 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 9 October 2020, the first look of the character played by Mariyam Shakeela was revealed, drawing media attention and garnering acclaim for the prosthetic makeup and cinematography.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/32402 |title=Amazing makeup work from Balhindhu Team |work=MuniAvas |language=Divehi |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=9 October 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011110019/https://www.muniavas.com/32402 |url-status=live |archivedate=11 October 2020 |access-date=11 October 2020|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
===Casting=== The cast of the film were initially finalized to be Aminath Rashfa, Mohamed Jumayyil, Fathimath Sara Adam, Mohamed Yunaan, Ismail Jumaih and Hunaisha Adam Naseer.<ref name=change/> However, following the child abuse allegation over Jumayyil, Dark Rain Entertainment severed ties with him and opted for re-shooting the majority of the scenes with some changes in the cast.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/32053 |title=A major change to Balhindhu |work=MuniAvas |language=Divehi |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=14 September 2020 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200916122035/https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/80258 |url-status=live |archivedate=16 September 2020 |access-date=15 September 2020 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In September 2020, it was reported that Ali Azim will replace Jumayyil in the film and announced that Mariyam Majudha, Nuzuhath Shuaib and Sharaf Abdulla will join the cast while Fathimath Sara Adam and Mohamed Yunaan will no longer be part of the project.<ref name=change>{{cite news|url=https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/61840 |title=Balhidhu Cast changed |work=Mihaaru |language=Divehi |last=Adhushan |first=Ahmed |date=15 September 2020 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200916122327/https://www.muniavas.com/32053 |url-status=live |archivedate=16 September 2020 |access-date=15 September 2020 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
===Filming=== Filming for ''Balhindhu'' commenced on 15 January 2020, with the initial cast, initiating the first schedule in Male' and Hulhumale'.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/17162 |title=Balhindhu is all ready to fly |work=MuniAvas |language=Divehi |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=25 September 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216150133/https://www.muniavas.com/17162 |url-status=live |archivedate=16 December 2023 |access-date=16 December 2023 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Adhushan |first=Ahmed |date=19 January 2020 |title=Shooting begins for Shinan's Balhindhu |language=Divehi |work=Mihaaru |url=https://mihaaru.com/news/67824 |url-status=live |access-date=16 December 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216150654/https://mihaaru.com/news/67824 |archivedate=16 December 2023 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic filming was abruptly halted when forty-five percent of the production had been completed.<ref name="avascast">{{cite news |date=14 September 2020 |title=Balhindhu to be re-shot with new cast |language=Divehi |work=Avas |url=https://avas.mv/88790 |url-status=live |access-date=16 December 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216151634/https://avas.mv/88790 |archivedate=16 December 2023 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Subsequently, following the controversy surrounding the lead actor of the film, filming was postponed.<ref name=Intro/> After undergoing a significant re-casting process, filming for ''Balhindhu'' resumed in September 2020.<ref name=change/> Filming was completed in October 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=11 October 2023 |title=FIlming of Balhindhu completed |language=Divehi |work=MuniAvas |url=https://www.muniavas.com/47342 |url-status=live |access-date=11 October 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011143306/https://www.muniavas.com/47342 |archivedate=11 October 2023 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}}
Category:Maldivian horror films Category:Unreleased films Category:Films directed by Ahmed Sinan Category:2020s Dhivehi-language films Category:Films postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic