Ahmed Nimal, a Maldivian filmmaker best known for writing, directing and starring in Sitee (1993), died Feb. 26, 2026. He was 62. He had been hospitalized since suffering a stroke on Dec. 31, 2025.
He suffered the stroke while riding a motorcycle in Malé and fell after stopping the motorcycle. He was initially treated at ADK Hospital and later transferred to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital as his condition remained serious.
Nimal rose to major prominence with Sitee, widely regarded as among the most popular Maldivian films with local audiences. The movie established him as a multi-hyphenate presence in Maldivian cinema: he not only wrote the screenplay and directed the film, but also appeared on screen, guiding key creative choices across the production.
His contributions were recognized nationally with a 1991 award for service to the film industry, a sign of standing that preceded his best-known work. Over the years, he continued to take on multiple responsibilities in filmmaking, including work beyond directing and acting. He also directed other well-known films, including Zalzalaa, Yoosuf and Niuma.
For many Maldivian viewers and filmmakers, Nimal’s legacy remains most closely tied to Sitee—a benchmark of locally made popular cinema and an example of how a single artist could carry a film from page to performance.