[2] However, they were successful to acquire a small camera which resulted in the first Maldivian song "Noorey Vidhee Moonun Roashan Ujaala" featuring Hassan Afeef and Rahma.

[2] During the time, Television Maldives was working on another film titled Orchid: Eynage Maa, giving "the required push" for those interested in film-making.

Though few off-track movies of different genres were made, majority of them are strictly influenced by Bollywood, awakening a necessity of a realism and naturalism cinema movement.

Hussain Adil's Hiyy Halaaku (1999) was an unofficial remake of Karan Johar's romantic drama film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji in the lead role while Aishath Ali Manik followed the same trend while making Asad Shareef, Sheela Najeeb, Ali Seezan and Niuma Mohamed starrer Hiiy Edhenee (2001) was copied from Dharmesh Darshan's romantic film Dhadkan (2000) starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Shilpa Shetty.

[7][8] The decade also saw the trend of established directors like Fathimath Nahula and Abdul Faththaah making melodrama entertainers like Naaummeedhu (2001), Loabi Nuvevununama (2002), Aan... Aharenves Loabivin (2003), Kalaayaanulaa (2003), Zuleykha (2005), Vehey Vaarey Therein (2005) and Yoosuf (2008).

[9] In 2005, the first Maldivian romantic disaster film was released, Abdul Faththaah's Hureemey Inthizaarugaa which was heavily relied on the effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on the Maldives.

[12] These films focused on realistic parallel cinema and include believable narratives and strong messages, earning critical acclaim though they were commercial failures.

[14] The following year, Moomin Fuad's crime tragedy drama film Loodhifa was released attracting widespread critical acclaim though it fails to leave much impact financially.

[16] The year introduced a war drama film, Ali Seezan's Wathan, where the genre was later experimented in 2016 by Ash'har Waheed in Haadharu.

[18] It was followed by Ravee Farooq's experimental suspense thriller Ingili (2013) which initiated the recognition of Maldivian cinema in international platforms.

They frequently employ formulaic ingredients such as star-crossed lovers, enraged parents, love triangles, cunning in-laws, sacrifice, dramatic reversals of fortune, and convenient coincidences.