Rafiyath Rameeza (born 23 March 1976) is a Maldivian singer.
Early life Rafiyath Rameeza was born and raised in the "Rameez family" where several artists, including Ali Rameez and Ibrahim Rameez, were raised and became prominent in the music industry. At the age of 12, while studying at Aminiya School, she competed in the Television Maldives Interschool Singing Competition and continued to participate in the competition for several years. In 1993, at the age of seventeen, while studying at Malé English School, Rameeza performed the song "Kaakuhey Mithaahuree" in the competition which earned her the award for Best Performer in her age category and ranked second in the competition. The following year, she performed the song "Heylaa Hure Ey" which again resulted in her winning the first place in the age category and second place in overall from the competition. She credited old Bollywood classical songs for the training, vocal exercises, and techniques she learned in singing.
After completing her studies, Rameeza worked as a secretary at a law firm for eight years. While she was working at this job, Rameeza married one of her singing duet partners, Ibrahim Amir, the brother of two renowned singers, Ahmed Amir and Fazeela Amir. During this time she worked as a mentor for the young generation artists including: Aishath Maain Rasheed, Lahufa Faiz and Mira Mohamed Majid. After giving birth to her first child, Rameeza quits the job and started recording for albums and films as a hobby.
Career Upon release of her first recording, Rameeza received several offers from music directors and producers to sing for their films and albums. The song "Liyunu Sitee Ey", from the album Furaana (1998) was the breakthrough performance by Rameeza, where she carved a niche in the "slow romantic and high-pitched" genre. Rameeza believes she is more "confident" and her "voice suits better" in slow tracks rather than fast-paced songs, though she began experimenting with her "lower vocal range" later in the career.
2010 witnessed a "new rise" in Rameeza where she recorded for several films including Veeraana and Niuma while remaking some old classical songs like "Ey Zamaana" and "Saahibaa" for Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa and "Hiyy Adhu Ronee Ey" for Heyonuvaane. The song "Aadhey Aadhey" from Zalzalaa En'buri Aun released during the same year fetched her a Gaumee Film Award nomination for Best Female Playback Singer. A sequel to her song of the same name from the film Zalzalaa (2000), "Aadhey Aadhey" was praised by the music critics for her "haunting" vocals. In 2011, the Government of Maldives honoured her with the National Award of Recognition, which Rameeza attributed as her biggest achievement. She is celebrated as one of the few singers who remains in the top of the industry since the 1990s.
Apart from singing, Rameeza made a brief appearance in the Ali Shifau-directed horror film Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D which serves as a prequel to Fathis Handhuvaru (1997), where she played the role Zoona, which was played by Niuma Mohamed in its sequel and was noted as a "surprising and unseen" side of Rameeza.
In the media In a publication from Haveeru Daily, Maisoon Moosa praised her "excellence in dominating the slow romantic song genre for over 25 years, despite the rise in new talents and styles" and commended her for "still remaining relevant in the industry while her contemporaries faded". In an interview from Avas, Ahmed Nadheem calling her the "Evergreen Queen of Maldives" noted that she has "a voice that does not deteriorate and a beauty that never fades with age". Apart from that, her "discipline" and "work ethics" were appraised in the media where she is always seen "wearing long sleeved" and "socially acceptable" dresses in public gatherings.
Discography Feature film Year Film Song Lyricist(s) Co-artist(s) Notes1994Kulunu"Ruhumaa Kulunaa Loabivaa"Muaviyath Anwar1997Loabeega Aniyaa"Edheynee Dhiyunhey Roalaafaa"Solo1998Ethoofaaneerey"Eyru Dhinhaa Ufaa"Ahmed ShakeebAbdul Hannan Moosa DidiSirru"Jaadhoo Ekey Kalaa Hedhee"Ahmed SharumeelIbrahim Amir1999Umurah"Ey Loabidheyshey Mastheevi Reyrey"Adam Haleem AdnanAli Rameez"Umurunve Maazee Qaruneh Dhiyas"2000Zalzalaa"Aadhey Aadhey"Abdul Hannan Moosa DidiSolo2001Ranmuiy"Gislumaa Veynugaa"Abdul MuhaiminSolo"Jaadhooge Malikaa Fenumun Mirey"Ibrahim AmirAppears in Soundtrack album2004Dharinnahtakai"Insaaneke Mee Dhuniyeygaa"Easa ShareefSolo"Athugaa Hifaa Dhin Ithubaarakun"Ahmed Nashidh (Dharavandhoo)Ibrahim Rameez2009Loaiybahtakaa"Hiyy Nagaafaa Ma Dhineemaa"Adam Haleem AdnanAbdul Baaree"Shaairekey Thee Beynunvey Khiyaal"Appears in Soundtrack album2010Maafeh Neiy"Hanhaarain Hiyy Furidhey"Mohamed Abdul GhaneeIbrahim Zaid AliDhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa"Ey Zamaanaa"Yoosuf MohamedfulhuSolo"Annaashey Hinithunvelamaa"Mohamed Abdul GhaneeIbrahim Zaid Ali, Mohamed Abdul Ghanee,Ahmed Shabeen, Mariyam Ashfa, Aminath Shaufa Saeed"Dhoadhi Ran" (Version 1)Mohamed Abdul GhaneeMumthaz Moosa"Saahibaa"Hussain SobahAbdul Baaree"Dhoadhi Ran" (Version 2)Mohamed Abdul GhaneeIbrahim Zaid AliAppears in Soundtrack albumZalzalaa En'buri Aun"Aadhey Aadhey"Mohamed Abdul GhaneeSoloVeeraana"Veeraanaa Vefaavaa Hayaaiy"Adam Haleem AdnanIbrahim Zaid Ali"Veeraanaa" (Promotional Song)VariousAppears in Soundtrack albumNiuma"Hithugaa An'dhaa Mi Alifaan"SoloHeyonuvaane"Hiyy Adhu Ronee Ey Nudhaashey"Hussain Shihab"Dhekefeemey Beevi Manzaru" (Slow Version)Boi Ahmed Khaleel2011Sazaa"Sazaa" (Theme Song)Mohamed Abdul Ghanee"Sazaa" (Promotional Song)Hussain SobahAhmed YaafiuHithey Dheymee"Hithey Dheymee"Yoosuf MohamedfulhuMohamed Farhad"Hithey Dheymee" (Sad Version)"Vey Kalaa Furaanaigaa"Mohamed Abdul Ghanee"Saafu Nayaa Han'dhuvaru"Mumthaz Moosa"Oagaave Bunamey"Ahmed Nashidh (Dharavandhoo)Hassan IlhamAppears in Soundtrack albumZaharu"Dhuniyeynvee Baakee" (Female Version)Mohamed Abdul GhaneeSolo"Araamudheyshey"Ibrahim Zaid Ali"Dhuniyeynvee Baakee" (Duet Version)E Bappa"Ulhe Ulhe Gaimuvee"Mumthaz MoosaLaelaa"Kuramey Rovey"SoloHiyy Yaara Dheefa"Thivee Beywafaa" (Version 1)Mohamed Abdul GhaneeMumthaz MoosaInsaaf"Ranyaa"Mohamed Abdul GhaneeMohamed Abdul GhaneeInthihaa"Alhe Foohinumevanyaa Dhen"Hussain SobahHussain SobahShelved film2012Mihashin Furaana Dhandhen"Sihijjey Birun"Mausoom ShakirHumaidh2013Dhilakani"Dhilakani" (Promotional Song)Ahmed FalahAhmed Yaafiu, Ibrahim Nifar (Thihthi)2014Aniyaa"Bunaashey Hithaa Ey"Ismail MubarikHassan JalaalRaanee"Oagaave Bunamey"Ahmed Nashidh (Dharavandhoo)Hassan Ilham2015Gilan"Gilan" (Theme Song)Hussain SobahHussain SobahShelved film2016E Re'ah Fahu"Mi Dhulun Thiya Faraathah"Hassan IlhamHaadharu"Naanaa"Adam Naseer IbrahimAhmed AthifVafaatheri Kehiveriya"Vafaatheri Kehiveriyaa"Adam Haleem AdhnanSoloVee Beyvafa"Mastheh Geney Hulhu Roavelan" Mohamed Abdul GhaneeIbrahim Zaid Ali2017Neydhen VakivaakahMohamed Abdul Ghanee"Mendhan Veemaa"Mumthaz MoosaBos"Mihiyy Edhey Goiy Nuvanee"Mausoom ShakirHamoodh Ibrahim2023Loabi Vevijje"Heelumey Hiyy Furey" (Version 1)Mohamed Abdul GhaneeAleef Ali2024Kamanaa"Kamanaa (Theme Song)"Adam Haleem AdnanSolo"Kathi Kathi Chaalu Balaalun"Mohamed Abdul GhaneeMohamed Abdul Ghanee, Mariyam Ashfa 2025 Kan'bulo"Mi Libunu Sazaa Akee"Mohamed Abdul GhaneeMohamed Abdul Ghanee
Short films Year Title Song Lyricist(s) Co-artist(s) Notes2009Pink Fairy "Pink Fairy"Mohamed Abdul GhaneeSolo "Pink Fairy" (Remix Version) 2012Dheke Dhekeves 6 "Hiyy Thelheyhey" Adam Haleem Adnan Hussain Sobah
Television Year Title Song Lyricist(s) Co-artist(s) Notes 1994Qurubaan "Thasveeru Mithuraa Fenumun Mirey" Fenthashi Mohamed Khaleel Fenthashi Mohamed Khaleel 1999 Liushaa (Teledrama) "Saadhaa Mizaaju" Boi Ahmed Khaleel Ali Rameez 2009Mihithah Loabi Dheyshey "Mihithah Loabi Dheyshey" Adam Haleem Adnan Ibrahim Zaid Ali 2010Mohommaa Gaadiyaa 2 "Ran Loabivaa" Adam Haleem Adnan Hassan Ilham "Ishqee Maabageechaa" Ahmed Falah Mumthaz Moosa 2011Furaana Dheynan "Furaana Dheynan" Mohamed Farhad 2022Dairy "Thiee Hooreh" Hussain Sobah Hussain Sobah Shelved series 2026 Ekaniveri Hithakun... "Ekaniveri Hithakun" (Theme Song) Ameen Ibrahim Ali Abdulla
Non-film songs