Zeenath Srikar

Fathimath Zeenath (born 14 August 1978), commonly known as Zeenath Abbas is a Maldivian actress. She has established a career in Maldivian films and is the recipient of a Gaumee Film Award.

Making her screen debut alongside Reeko Moosa Manik in the song "Edheythee Reethi Moona", her first film release was Mohamed Rasheed directed drama film Kuhveriya (1998). She next starred in Mariyam Shauqee's acclaimed family drama television series Kahthiri (1998) followed by a supporting role in Ali Musthafa-directed Umurah (1999) and Amjad Ibrahim-directed family drama Ainbehge Loabi Firiehge Vaajib (2000). She also collaborated with Ibrahim for his horror film Sandhuravirey 2 (2004) before appearing in the critically acclaimed crime film Heylaa (2006) which fetched her a Gaumee Film Award nomination for Best Actress. This was followed by a collaboration with Aishath Rishmy for the horror film Hukuru Vileyrey (2006) which garnered her first nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Apart from starring in Fathimath Nahula's highest-grossing film Yoosuf (2008), Zeenath received critical acclaim for her role in Ali Seezan's action film Ahsham (2015) and Vee Beyvafa (2016) where she was bestowed with the Best Supporting Actress Award for the former while being nominated in the same category from the latter.

Career Zeenath made her screen debut with the song "Edheythee Reethi Moona" alongside Reeko Moosa Manik. Her first film release was Mohamed Rasheed directed drama film Kuhveriya (1998) starred opposite Moosa Zakariyya. This was followed by the Ali Musthafa-directed Umurah (1999) as a nurse opposite Jamsheedha Ahmed and Reeko Moosa Manik .

Amjad Ibrahim-directed Ainbehge Loabi Firiehge Vaajib, starring Abbas, Yoosuf Shafeeu, Jamsheedha Ahmed, Arifa Ibrahim and Niuma Mohamed was released in 2000. The film revolves around a woman who has been mistreated by her step-mother and forced into a marriage she disapproves. Abbas played the role of Lillian, an indolent daughter who ill-treats her own mother.

Zeenath next starred as an obsessive and heartbroken lover of an established actor in Amjad Ibrahim's next directorial venture Sandhuravirey 2 (2004); a sequel to his 2002 horror film Sandhuravirey which presented Yoosuf Shafeeu and Mariyam Nisha in lead roles.

Moomin Fuad and Ali Shifau's critically appreciated crime film Heylaa (2006) featured Zeenath as a drug addict. The film narrates the story of a fourteen years old ambitious boy who finds himself unknowingly being involved in smuggling of a revolver. Though the film received positive reviews from critics, it was a commercial failure. Co-director of the film Shifau opined that its commercial status was a result of casting "not very prominent" faces in the film and the "film-goers were not ready to accept the genre" at the time of release. Ahmed Nadheem from Haveeru praised the narration and plot of the film while criticizing the performance of Zeenath as the worst from the cast. Although her performance received poor reviews, she was nominated as the Best Actress at 5th Gaumee Film Awards ceremony. The film was a critical and commercial success while being considered "one of the few acceptable horror films the Maldivian Film Industry has ever produced". It was later released as 15 episodes television series with inclusion of several clips that were edited off while released in theatre. This was followed by Amjad Ibrahim's romantic drama film Hithuge Edhun (2006) which narrates the story of a disabled man where she played a guest role of a lady being publicly humiliated.

In 2008, Zeenath appeared in Fathimath Nahula's romantic drama film, Yoosuf which depicts the story of a deaf and mute man (played by Yoosuf Shafeeu) who has been mistreated by a wealthy family, mocking his disability. Featuring an ensemble cast including Yoosuf Shafeeu, Niuma Mohamed, Sheela Najeeb, Ahmed Nimal, Mohamed Manik, Fauziyya Hassan, Ravee Farooq and Ahmed Lais Asim, the film is considered to include most prominent faces in a Maldivian film. A total of forty five housefull shows were screened at Olympus Cinema before the film was leaked online, however the producers were able to screen five more shows at the cinema making it one of the Maldivian all-time highest-grossing movies. The film was Maldivian official entry at 2009 SAARC Film Festivals and holds the privilege of being the opening movie of the festival.

In 2010, Abbas starred alongside Aminath Rasheedha, Aishath Rishmy and Ahmed Azmeel in Rishmy's drama film Fanaa. Based on a novel published by Ibrahim Waheed titled Balgish, she played the villainous role. Though the film received mixed reviews from critics, her performance in a negative shade was widely acclaimed. The film, made on a budget of MVR 1,500,000, was considered the most expensive film made in the Maldives. The following year, Abbas collaborated with Seezan to star in his romantic film Vafaatheri Kehiveriya (2016). The film received a mixed to negative reception from critics. Nadheem blamed the title of the film for giving the impression of "old typical" to the film. Her performance as Ainthu, a rich tycoon, was considered "too simple" for her "caliber". The film received negative response from critics where Ahmed Adhushan of Mihaaru concluded his review calling the film "a step backward" in the progress of cinema. At the 8th Gaumee Film Awards Abbas was bestowed with the Best Supporting Actress award for Ahsham and was nominated for her performance in Vee Beyvafa in the same category. Revolving around a patient suffering from depression, Abbas played a small role in the film. Starring opposite Mohamed, Yoosuf Shafeeu and Ahmed Asim, the film received majorly positive reviews from critics; Aishath Maaha of Dho? favored the performance of the lead actors and mentioned the "neat arrangement" of its screenplay though pointed out its "weak ending" to be unsatisfactory.

Media image In 2018, Zeenath was ranked in the third position from Dho?'s list of Top Ten Actresses of Maldives where writer Aishath Maaha opined that she is the perfect "villain" of the industry though Abbas can pull off soft and calm characters too.

Filmography Feature film Year Title Role Notes 1998 Kuhveriya Reema 2020 Andhirikan Athika

Television

Short film Year Title Role Notes 2005 Falhi Sikunthu 2 Athika 2006 Minikaa Dhaitha Unnamed Special appearance 2006Ereyge FahunDr. Najfa 2009 Dhanna Nudhanna Rauna 2009 Dhekunu Huvafen Liusha 2009 Fahun Rangalhuvaane Dhon Sihthi Best Supporting Actress Hukuru Vileyrey Best Makeup - Short film Siyaasee Koalhun (Shared with Fathimath Azifa) Vee Beyvafa Best Supporting Actress - Short film Siyaasee Koalhun Best Makeup Ahsham