Maldivian Nahula`s film `Yousuf` premieres at SAFF

Panaji, June 27: For Maldivian filmmaker Fathimath Nahula, getting world premiere for her film `Yousuf` at the South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) is a moment to celebrate."I am very happy and proud that the film is getting such a treatment here. The film carries social message which is universal and I am content that the audience across the border is appreciating the story," the young Maldivian film director said.

The fourth edition of South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) here was introduced with "Yousuf," a flick that tells the tale of a deaf and dumb boy. "The presentation and story are unique selling proportion of this film," Nahula said. According to her, the film amassed maximum collection on the Maldivian box office after its release in June 2008, since it contains universal story, the film can run successfully in theatres across globe. Nahula who praises Bollywood biggies like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan says that there are ample similarities between Indian and Maldivian films. "Both are musical films. We have songs in the films," she says. Nahula, who has films like `Kala Nula` (Without You) to her credit, said that in Maldivian films, even the stories penned for filmmaking are like Indian themes. She said that Maldivian film industry is growing and is currently producing five to six films a year. Bureau Report