Aishath Naajila ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ Maldivian Fishermen ᱵᱷᱤᱰᱤᱭᱳ ᱫᱚ ᱪᱞᱚᱪᱤᱛᱨ ᱯᱨᱚᱛᱤᱡᱚᱜᱤᱛᱟ ᱵᱷᱟᱜ ᱨᱮ 2026 A' Design Award ᱨᱩᱯᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ ᱟᱹᱰᱤ ᱢᱟᱱ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱡᱤᱛᱠᱟᱨ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾
ᱨᱩᱯᱟᱪᱞᱚᱪᱤᱛᱨ· 2026
Maldivian Fishermen ᱵᱷᱤᱰᱤᱭᱳ
Aishath Naajila ᱞᱮᱠᱟᱛᱮ
ᱜᱟᱦᱟᱠ: Two Thousand Isles
ᱪᱞᱚᱪᱤᱛᱨ ᱵᱷᱟᱜ ᱨᱮ A' Design Award ᱨᱩᱯᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱡᱤᱛᱠᱟᱨ
ᱡᱟᱸᱪ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱮᱣᱟᱨᱰ ᱡᱤᱛᱠᱟᱨ
#183833 ᱞᱟᱜᱤᱫ ᱮᱣᱟᱨᱰ ᱦᱟᱞᱚᱛ ᱡᱟᱸᱪᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ
Maldivian Fishermen ᱵᱷᱤᱰᱤᱭᱳ ᱵᱟᱵᱚᱛ ᱛᱮ
ᱢᱟᱞᱰᱤᱵᱤᱭᱟᱱ ᱯᱷᱤᱥᱟᱨᱢᱮᱱ ᱛᱤᱲᱤᱡ ᱫᱚ ᱢᱟᱞᱰᱤᱵ ᱨᱮ ᱯᱟᱨᱢᱟᱯᱮᱨᱟ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱥᱟᱦᱴᱟ ᱟᱨ ᱞᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱛᱮ ᱴᱩᱱᱟ ᱦᱟᱠᱩ ᱫᱚ ᱥᱟᱵ ᱮᱢ ᱠᱚ ᱩᱫᱩᱜᱟ, ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱴᱤᱠᱟᱶ ᱛᱮ ᱮᱢ ᱦᱚᱲᱚᱠ ᱦᱚᱨᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ ᱡᱟᱦᱟᱸ ᱫᱚ ᱟᱺᱛᱩ ᱫᱮᱥ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱡᱤᱭᱚᱱ ᱞᱮᱠᱟ ᱛᱮ ᱟᱡᱟᱨ ᱠᱟᱛᱮᱡ ᱦᱩᱭᱩᱜ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ ᱾ ᱡᱩᱜ ᱡᱩᱜ ᱠᱷᱚᱱ, ᱴᱩᱱᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱡᱚᱢᱟᱠ ᱦᱚᱲᱚᱠ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ ᱡᱟᱦᱟᱸ ᱫᱚ ᱟᱺᱛᱩ ᱡᱟᱠᱟᱛ ᱨᱮ ᱫᱤᱱ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱡᱤᱭᱚᱱ ᱨᱮ ᱜᱚᱲᱚ ᱮᱢᱟ ᱾ ᱥᱤᱱᱮᱢᱟᱴᱤᱠ ᱫᱮᱠᱷᱟᱣ ᱟᱨ ᱡᱚᱛᱚ ᱛᱮ ᱛᱟᱦᱮᱸᱱ ᱠᱟᱱ ᱥᱟᱰᱮ ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱥᱟᱶ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱠᱟᱛᱷᱟ ᱞᱟᱹᱭ ᱦᱚᱨ ᱦᱟᱛᱟᱣ ᱠᱟᱛᱮ, ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱫᱚ ᱦᱩᱱᱟᱨᱟᱱ ᱦᱟᱠᱩ ᱥᱟᱵ ᱦᱚᱲ ᱠᱚ ᱢᱤᱫ ᱯᱟᱨᱢᱟᱯᱮᱨᱟ ᱫᱷᱳᱱᱤ ᱨᱮ ᱢᱤᱫᱴᱟᱺ ᱴᱤᱠᱟᱶ ᱛᱮ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱮᱫ ᱠᱚ ᱩᱫᱩᱜᱟ, ᱟᱨ ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱟᱱᱩᱵᱷᱩᱴ ᱫᱚ ᱡᱟᱠᱟᱛ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱢᱚᱸᱪ ᱦᱟᱹᱵᱤᱡ ᱟᱹᱜᱩ ᱟ ᱾
ᱢᱟᱱᱟᱱ
A' Design Award ᱨᱩᱯᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱵᱟᱵᱚᱛ ᱛᱮ
Maldivian Fishermen ᱵᱷᱤᱰᱤᱭᱳ ᱫᱚ A' Design Award ᱨᱩᱯᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱧᱟᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ, ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱥᱩᱱᱫᱚᱨ ᱟᱨ ᱵᱷᱟᱞᱟᱭ ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱠᱚ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱮᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱥᱚᱢᱟᱱ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾ ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱠᱚ ᱫᱚ ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱᱟᱨ ᱠᱚ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱵᱷᱟᱵᱱᱟ ᱟᱨ ᱵᱷᱟᱞᱟᱭ ᱠᱟᱢᱤ ᱡᱷᱟᱞᱠᱟᱣ ᱠᱚ᱾ Maldivian Fishermen ᱵᱷᱤᱰᱤᱭᱳ ᱫᱚ ᱠᱚᱞᱟ, ᱣᱤᱜᱭᱟᱱ, ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱟᱨ ᱴᱮᱠᱱᱚᱞᱚᱡᱤ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱥᱤᱢᱟ ᱵᱟᱲᱦᱟᱣ ᱟᱨ ᱫᱩᱱᱤᱭᱟ ᱵᱷᱟᱞᱟᱭ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱜᱚᱲᱚ ᱮᱢ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾
ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱯᱤᱪᱷᱟ ᱨᱮ
ᱯᱨᱮᱥ ᱠᱤᱴ
ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱᱟᱨ ᱧᱮᱞ ᱠᱷᱚᱱ ᱠᱨᱮᱰᱤᱴ, ᱴᱤᱢ ᱥᱫᱚᱥᱭ ᱟᱨ ᱴᱮᱠᱱᱤᱠᱮᱞ ᱵᱤᱵᱚᱨᱚᱬ ᱮᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾
- ᱟᱞᱜᱟ ᱜᱩᱱ ᱠᱚ
- This is an independently produced documentary visual project capturing the traditional pole-and-line fishing practice in the Maldives. Created during COVID-19 while in isolation at sea, it combines cinematography, sound design, and immersive storytelling. Its strength lies in its authenticity, produced within real conditions of isolation, offering an intimate, unfiltered portrayal of Maldivian fishermen. The work stands out for its experiential approach, blending heritage, resilience, and cinematic realism.
- ᱢᱟᱯ ᱟᱨ ᱯᱮᱠᱮᱡᱤᱝ
- Shot aboard a 100-foot pole-and-line fishing dhoni, the project documents Maldivian fishermen working at sea with precise, coordinated movements resembling a disciplined system. Through aerial perspectives, it captures the ocean’s food chain in motion, sharks, skipjack tuna, and fishermen, framing these moments to reflect the deep connection between this traditional practice and the Maldives’ identity and way of life.
- ᱴᱮᱜ ᱠᱚ
- sustainable, fishing, pole and line, Maldives, tuna, ocean, documentry
- ᱛᱮᱭᱟᱨ ᱛᱮᱠᱱᱚᱞᱚᱡᱤ
- Filmed on a Sony A7 III with 35mm, 85mm, and 70–200mm lenses, with aerials via DJI Phantom 4 and underwater footage on a GoPro during freediving, the project was produced independently,covering planning, real-time filming, editing, sound design, and colour grading. An unobtrusive approach allowed fishermen to work naturally, ensuring an authentic, unstaged portrayal without direction.
- ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱱ ᱪᱮᱞᱮᱧ
- The project faced logistical constraints, including limited equipment, a single drone battery requiring precise planning, and long waits for unpredictable moments at sea. The first four days saw no catch due to bait shortages, and underwater footage relied solely on a GoPro. Adapting strategically, key moments were captured to form an authentic narrative of the fishermen’s practice and the ocean’s food chain.
- ᱜᱚᱵᱮᱥᱚᱱᱟ
- Documentary visual research on sustainable pole-and-line fishing in the Maldives. Field-based observation and immersive filming were conducted over 8 days in March 2020 aboard a local fishing vessel during the COVID-19 period. Data was collected through photography, film, aerial, and underwater footage. Participants included local fishermen. The results highlight ecological balance, resilience, and coordination. The impact emphasizes cultural preservation and awareness of sustainable fishing practices.
- ᱯᱨᱮᱨᱚᱱᱟ
- Inspired by a lifelong curiosity about fishing in the Maldives, the project evolved through Two Thousand Isles, where travel deepened an interest in storytelling and lived experience. While learning freediving, the filmmaker joined an eight-day trip on a local boat, living at sea, waking before dawn and at midnight, eating the catch, and observing the ocean’s food chain in motion.
- ᱯᱨᱚᱡᱮᱠᱴ ᱥᱚᱢᱚᱭ
- Filmed over eight days aboard a fishing vessel in March 2020, during the early stages of COVID-19, the project was later completed with full post-production, editing, sound design, and colour grading, independently carried out later that year.
- ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱦᱚᱨ
- Operated on a traditional pole-and-line dhoni, the method relies on coordinated teamwork and timing rather than machinery. Fishermen attract skipjack tuna with live bait, triggering a feeding response where fish are hooked individually. Key moments, bait release, surface frenzy, precise catching, transform ocean activity into a sustainable harvest, reducing bycatch and ensuring quality, rooted in skill, patience, and harmony with marine life.
- ᱯᱮᱴᱮᱱᱴ ᱠᱚ
- All the copyrights belong to Aishath Naajila, 2023.
- ᱪᱤᱛᱟᱹᱨ ᱥᱟᱹᱦᱟ
- Videography & Photography: Aishath Naajila
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