Ali Usam
{{short description|Maldivian actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ali Usam
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| nationality = Maldivian
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| occupation = Actor, model, host
| yearsactive = 2019–present (acting)
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Ali Usam, commonly known as Dhona, is a Maldivian film actor, model and TV presenter.
Career
Usam began his professional career as a model in 2009 before starting to work as a host in several television shows.{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/35438 |title=Dhona to play a significant role in "Huvaa Kofaa Bunan" |work=MuniAvas |language=Divehi |last=Dheema |first=Mariyam |date=1 March 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117132131/https://psmnews.mv/88829 |url-status=live |archivedate=17 January 2022 |accessdate=17 January 2022}} He made his career debut in Ravee Farooq-directed web series Ehenas which follows the experiences of a long-term domestic and sexually abused male victim and how he faces the societal obstacles of marriage.{{cite news |url=https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/75210 |title=Ehenas Season 2: Premiere on 18 |work=Mihaaru |language=Divehi |last=Adhushan |first=Ahmed |date=4 June 2020 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200820164905/https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/75210 |url-status=live |archivedate=20 August 2020 |access-date=19 August 2020 |df=dmy-all }} Aishath Maahaa reviewing from Dho? was generally impressed with the acting performance of the newcomers including Usam, though he had a very brief role.{{cite news |url=https://dho.mv/baiscope/58188 |title=Ehenas: A heart-wrenching series |work=Dho? |language=Divehi |last=Maahaa |first=Aishath |date=17 July 2019 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200819053832/https://dho.mv/baiscope/58188 |url-status=live |archivedate=19 August 2020 |access-date=19 August 2020 |df=dmy-all }} He then played the role of a politician who is competing for a seat in People's Majlis, in Yoosuf Shafeeu's comedy drama series Huvaa Kohfa Bunan.{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/34330 |title=Huvaa Koffaa Bunan: An interesting and funny ride |work=MuniAvas |language=Divehi |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=29 December 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102064431/https://www.muniavas.com/34330 |url-status=live |archivedate=2 January 2021 |access-date=2 January 2021}} Mariyam Dheema reviewing from MuniAvas praised his acting skills and looks, and commented "with this role he has proved that directors can mold him to play any kind of role".
In 2021, he again collaborated with Shafeeu for two projects; Avahteriya and Giridha, alongside Ibrahim Jihad, Ali Azim, Ahmed Zia, Aminath Noora and Ansham Mohamed. In the comedy series Avahteriya, he played the role of Raseem, a client who is manipulated to find his dream girl, while in the latter, he played the role of an aspiring screenwriter, who along with his two other friends scheme to influence their leaser to finance for their dream to work in the film industry.{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/37757 |title="Giridha"'s to be streamed on September 7 |work=MuniAvas |language=Divehi |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=29 August 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910102528/https://www.muniavas.com/37757 |url-status=live |archivedate=10 September 2021 |accessdate=10 September 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://avas.mv/101668 |title=Eupe's "Avahteriya" streaming on Baiskoafu |work=Avas |last=Adam |first=Ahmed Hameed |date=12 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224070920/https://avas.mv/101668 |url-status=live|archive-date=24 December 2021 |accessdate=24 December 2021 |df=dmy-all}}
The following year he collaborated with Ilyas Waheed for two projects, including the four-part anthology web series Mazloom.{{cite news|url=https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/94857 |title="Mazloom" is the Independence Day gift |language=Divehi |work=Mihaaru |last=Adhushan |first=Ahmed |date=24 July 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725053008/https://mihaaru.com/entertainment/94857 |url-status=live |archivedate=25 July 2021 |accessdate=25 July 2021|df=dmy-all}} Mariyam Waheedha from Dhen praised the performance of Usam, while calling the chapter an "honorable conclusion" to a benchmark project.{{cite news|url=https://dhen.mv/140542 |title=A fair end to "Mazloom" |language=Divehi |work=Dhen |last=Waheedha |first=Mariyam |date=14 February 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008050104/https://dhen.mv/140542 |url-status=live |archivedate=8 October 2022 |accessdate=8 October 2022|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/37081 |title="Mazloom" a benchmark project |language=Divehi |work=MuniAvas |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=28 July 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910081827/https://www.muniavas.com/37081 |url-status=live |archivedate=10 September 2021 |accessdate=10 September 2021|df=dmy-all}} This was followed by Azhan Ibrahim's crime thriller web series Dharaka (2022) which revolves around a high-profile case of the disappearance of a politician's daughter.{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/38678 |title=Web series "Dharaka" coming soon |language=Divehi |work=MuniAvas |last=Abdullah |first=Saajid |date=1 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211091612/https://www.muniavas.com/38678 |url-status= live |archive-date=11 December 2021 |access-date=11 December 2021 |df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/40399 |title="Dharaka" to be released on 8 April |work=MuniAvas |language=Divehi |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=15 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315162751/https://www.muniavas.com/40399 |url-status=live |archive-date=15 March 2022 |access-date=15 March 2022 |df=dmy-all}} Reviewing the finale of the series, Ahmed Rasheed from MuniAvas considered the series to be an "excellent watch, if you are interested in good quality series".{{cite news|url=https://www.muniavas.com/41172 |title=Nisha's murderer revealed |work=MuniAvas |language=Divehi |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=20 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812055220/https://www.muniavas.com/41172 |url-status=live |archive-date=12 August 2022 |access-date=12 August 2022 |df=dmy-all}} The year marks his second collaboration with Ilyas Waheed for his horror thriller anthology web series Biruveri Vaahaka as Zedey, a traumatized survivor of a sea incident.{{cite news |url=https://www.muniavas.com/41370 |title="Mas Dhathuru 1" - A prosper addition to the chain |work=MuniAvas |last=Rasheed |first=Ahmed |date=5 July 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811192444/https://www.muniavas.com/41370 |url-status=live |archivedate=11 August 2022 |access-date=11 August 2022 |df=dmy-all}}
Filmography
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
!scope="col"| Year !scope="col"| Title !scope="col"| Role !scope="col"| Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Tooltip|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |
| 2019–2020
!scope="row"| Ehenas | Nafiz | Recurring role; 22 episodes |
| 2020–2021
!scope="row"|Huvaa Kohfa Bunan | Arushad | Recurring role; 7 episodes |
| 2021
!scope="row"|Avahteriya | Raseen | Main role; 26 episodes |
| 2021–present
!scope="row"|Girlfriends | Faya | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2021
!scope="row"|Giridha | Mafaaz | Main role; 15 episodes |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Mazloom | Aroosh | Main role in "Chapter 4: Hintha" |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Dharaka | Zayan | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Biruveri Vaahaka | Zalif "Zedey" | Main role; Episode: "Mas Dhathuru" |
| 2023
!scope="row" | Hiy Kalaayah Edheythee | Mahid | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2023
!scope="row"|Yaaraa | Dhona | Guest role; "Episode 1" |
| 2024–2025
!scope="row"|Raiha | Azeem | Main role; 12 episodes |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:Male actors from Malé
Category:21st-century Maldivian male actors