Former Maldivian film director Abdul Faththaah passed away on Tuesday evening at the age of 54.

Faththaah was widely regarded as one of the Maldives’ most prominent and influential filmmakers, with a career spanning decades. He also contributed to several productions for Public Service Media (PSM), playing a significant role in the development of the local film and television industry.

In recognition of his contributions to public service and the arts, Faththaah was awarded the National Award for Encouragement of Public Service in 2004. His work earned numerous accolades over the years, including Crystal Awards for Best Editing and Best Director in 2007.

He went on to win multiple honours at the National Film Awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup at the 4th National Film Awards. In 2010, he received the Best Video Songs Award at the Maldives Video Music Awards.

At the 2012 National Film Awards, Faththaah won Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Choreography, followed by further wins for Best Director, Best Editing, Best Art Direction, and Best Choreography at the 2015 National Film Awards.

His final major accolades came in 2019, when he won Best Director and Best Art Director at the 9th National Film Awards for his film Hahdhu, shortly before stepping away from the film industry.

Faththaah’s passing marks a significant loss to Maldivian cinema, where his creative vision and technical excellence helped shape generations of filmmakers and audiences alike.