The wounds that follow you home: Ganaa turns the lens on bullying in the Maldives

Bullying has been acknowledged at a national level. Yet it persists across generations, mutating into more insidious forms. Studies reveal that verbal bullying, accounting for up to 74 percent of cases, is the most common form among Maldivian adolescents. Some 43 percent of students have admitted to physically harming others while 42 percent reported engaging in social abuse, such as exclusion or deliberate isolation.

In 2012, local NGO ARC launched the ‘Respect’ campaign, uncovering alarming statistics from surveys conducted among students in the sixth and seventh grades in Malé, Hulhumalé, and Villimalé. Of the 542 participants:

This cycle extends beyond students. A video that went viral on social media recently showed an Addu City High School student bullying an Indian teacher. The incident only reinforced the notion that addressing bullying has become a Sisyphean task.

The conversation Ganaa initiates is both nuanced and necessary – one rarely approached with such depth in mainstream local media.

“We wanted to explore a concept that is unconventional in local movies and shows,” said Ravee Farooq, who helms both the direction and screenplay of the series.

Ravee’s involvement alone has heightened anticipation and placed Ganaa on a pedestal. Since his critically acclaimed directorial work in the movie Ingili, he has consciously stepped away from familiar romantic tropes to explore darker, more complex, and unconventional themes. Ganaa follows that trajectory.

The storyline is anything but straightforward, and neither are its characters. Each is layered with pain, shaped by their own struggles. At its core, the series also interrogates power dynamics: where morality collides with hierarchy, and where social structures quietly enable cruelty.

The trailer, released last month, signals this intent through unsettling visuals that pull you into its dark, suspenseful world. Characters move through these moments with palpable tension, confronting one another in loaded silences. Fear, grief, and guilt surface with unnerving conviction, made all the more haunting by the brooding strains of Vashaafaaru, the original soundtrack for Ganaa produced by Shahu Wayne from Symbolic Records in collaboration with Toy. The song lingers well after the trailer ends. The mournful serenade by Toy – about the walls people build to hide their pain – mirrors the series' themes. 

The creative visions of production company Ehkaaf and Ravee align seamlessly. Renowned for series with cult followings such as Hinthaa and Gareena, Ehkaaf has consistently pursued narratives that challenge social comfort zones. Producing Ganaa was, in many ways, inevitable.

Hasan Shazil, one of Ehkaaf’s founders and producers of Ganaa, already had a clear mental picture of the concept when he approached Ravee. This marks their third collaboration, following Hinthaa, which was also directed by Ravee. He notes that the creative freedom afforded by Ehkaaf is what continually draws him back to working with the team.

Character introductions for Ganaa began in July, revealing a striking blend of veteran and debut actors. Established names such as Shaarif and Sharaf appeared alongside their younger counterparts – newcomers to the acting scene. Zaleeshan (Zalle) takes on the role of an adult Maakin. Muneez and Zaul portray the younger versions of Shaarif and Sharaf.

Each poster revealed the characters through subtle poses and gestures. Most memorably, Maakin’s origami bird, a simple yet profound symbol hinting at the emotional weight Zalle’s character carries. Despite their lack of prior acting experience, the rookies embodied their roles with remarkable authenticity Ravee explained.

“We did reading sessions along with acting training before the shoot started,” he said.

The supporting cast further enriches the series, featuring Lam, Shuha, Hamdhaan, Abdulla Shaafiu, Ali Nadheeh, Shifna, Abaan, Naiz, Yoonus, and Maasha, with special appearances by Mariyam Haleem and Ali Farooq. Casting was led by Ravee, Nami, and Hasan.

The main trailer, launched on November 30, stands out for its cinematic restraint. The lighting and sombre colour palette complement the thriller genre without overpowering the narrative. Producers Ravee, Hasan, and Nami unanimously agree that on-boarding new creatives as directors of photography was a decision that paid off.

Working with two fresh visual storytellers, Nahzan and Sunain, also brought a new perspective to the series. The collaboration unfolded without creative friction, grounded instead in mutual respect and a shared ambition to achieve an aesthetic rarely seen in current local media.

The Maldivian film industry remains in its infancy not due to a lack of talent, but because of persistent financial constraints and limited platforms. Ganaa, and the collective effort behind it, stands as a testament to what local creatives can do despite limited resources.

Cinema plays a vital cultural role. It shapes conversations, challenges norms, and reflects uncomfortable truths. If storytelling is allowed to stagnate within familiar tropes, these critical conversations risk being silenced. Encouraging projects like Ganaa means fostering dialogue not only about love and rivalry, but about the most sensitive and neglected social issues.

Ravee expressed gratitude to Medianet for providing the opportunity and flexibility to present such a narrative. The team plans to premiere Ganaa at Olympus this month with two episodes. The full series is to be made available on Medianet's Videoclub, a move that Ehkaaf believes will offer audiences a memorable introduction to the new actors and affirm their commitment to enduring in the industry.