Biruveri Vaahaka is a Maldivian horror thriller anthology web series directed by Ilyas Waheed. The series features an ensemble cast including Ahmed Saeed, Mariyam Azza, Nathasha Jaleel, Nuzuhath Shuaib, Sharaf Abdulla, Aishath Rishmy and Ravee Farooq. Each episode of the series focuses on a separate storyline although the characters from the episodes are interrelated to form the main plot, which revolves around a secretive investigation team trying to undercover a series of supernatural suspected murders.
Cast and characters
Episode 1: Phone Call Furugan Mohamed as Ayan Hassan Saamih Mohamed as Saamih Naajiha Azoor as Jazlee Mariyam Shakeela as Muna; Ayan's mother
Episode 2: Lakunu Mariyam Waheedha as Dheema Aminath Alya Nazeer as Shaan Aishath Yalma Nazeer as Jinn Kid Fathimath Latheefa as Shaira Mohamed Afrah as Rasheed Mariyam Shakeela as Muna
Episode 3: Edhun Ibrahim Fairooz Adam as Niyaz Fathimath Sara Adam as Ziyana Thaathi Adam as Saamiya Suja Abdulla as Niyaz's neighbor Nuzuhath Shuaib as Saba; friend of Niyaz Sharaf Abdulla as Azaan; friend of Niyaz Nashidha Mohamed as a customer (special appearance) Ibrahim Jihad as a customer (special appearance)
Episode 4: Mask Mohamed Vishal as Ayya Aisha Ali as Lubaa Ibrahim Amaan Hussan as Lubaa's husband Fathimath Latheefa as Ayya Mom Ahmed Sharif as Razeen "Rocky" Ibrahim Fairooz Adam as Niyaz Hassan Saamih Mohamed as Samih Sharaf Abdulla as Azaan Hussain Shinan as neighbor Aishath Nazeeha as neighbor
Episode 5 and 6: Mas Dhathuru Ahmed Sharif as Razeen "Rocky" Hussain Haazim (Sandy) as Athoof Ali Usam as Zalif "Zedey" Ali Nadheeh as Hazif "Happu" Aishath Razan Ramiz as Mizu Mariyam Azza as Lahoo Nathasha Jaleel as Nisha Sammah Mohamed as Saif Saamee Hussain Didi as Dimaah Ahmed Saeed as Zahir Mohamed Maahil as young Rocky Mariyam Haleem and Rocky's Grandmother
Episode 7: Honeymoon Nuzuhath Shuaib as Saba Sharaf Abdulla as Azaan Ibrahim Soba as Jaleel Aminath Rayya Binth Areef as Kid
Episode 8: Jaadhoogar Aishath Rishmy as Leesh Ahmed Azmeel as Soba Ibrahim Soba as Jaleel Ahmed Shamaan Nazeer as Niyaz Ali Yooshau as Ziyadh Nuzuhath Shuaib as Saba Sharaf Abdulla as Azaan
Episode 9: Mini Mariyam Azza as Lahoo Ahmed Saeed as Zahir Nathasha Jaleel as Nisha Sammah Mohamed as Saif Adam Rizwee as Rasheed Ahmed Shaihaan as Ismail Saamee Hussain Didi as Dimaah Ravee Farooq as Qalib (special appearance) Mohamed Manik as Yoosuf (special appearance)
Episode 10: Rah Aishath Rishmy as Leesh Nuzuhath Shuaib as Saba Ahmed Asim as Niyaz Ali Yooshau as Jaleel Sharaf Abdulla as Azaan Mariyam Azza as Lahoo Ahmed Saeed as Zahir Nathasha Jaleel as Nisha
Episode 11: Loabiverin Abdulla Muaz as Akram Fathimath Visama as Reen Ravee Farooq as Qalib Mariyam Azza as Lahoo
Episode 12: Foshi Nathasha Jaleel as Nisha Saamee Hussain Didi as Dimaah Mohamed Manik as Yoosuf Ahmed Saeed as Zahir Ravee Farooq as Qalib Mariyam Azza as Lahoo Nuzuhath Shuaib as Saba Sharaf Abdulla as Azaan
Episode 13: Haajaanu Nathasha Jaleel as Nisha Saamee Hussain Didi as Dimaah Mohamed Manik as Yoosuf Ahmed Saeed as Zahir Ravee Farooq as Qalib Mariyam Azza as Lahoo Fathimath Sara Adam as Ziyana Aisha Ali as Luba Mohamed Vishal as Ayya
Episodes
Development The project was announced in November 2020, as fifteen-episodes anthology web series. Filming for the web series started in October 2020. A casting call was made by director Ilyas Waheed and an audition was held to launch new faces. In spite of the debut actors, it was reported the series will star prominent actors too. On 28 November 2020, it was reported that the series will star Mohamed Vishal, Fathimath Sara Adam, Mariyam Shakeela and Sharaf Abdulla. On 22 September 2021, it was announced that Aishath Rishmy, Ahmed Azmeel and Ibrahim Sobah has joined the cast for the eight episode of the series. Post production of the series was handed over to Orkeyz Inc, similar to Waheed's previous film ventures including Bavathi (2019) and Nina.
Soundtrack The promotional song titled "Shaithona", performed by Andhala Haleem was released on 6 May 2022 to positive reviews from critics, with specific mention for its makeup and videography.
Release and reception In June 2022, it was announced that the series will be officially streamed through DhiraaguTV.
Upon release, the series received positive reviews from critics, where Ahmed Rasheed from MuniAvas wrote: "the whole crew has executed their respective roles to its fullest leading the final project to be flawless". The reviews were directed at the performance of the cast and writer-director Ilyas' creativity for merging horror folklore into an "engaging visual treat".
Apart from the concept, screenplay, performance and direction, the series met extremely positive reviews from critics for its graphic designing and visual effects, especially for the makeup and visual designing for the seaworm portrayed by Aishath Razan Ramiz in the episode 6 titled Mas Dhathuru.
References