AHMED LAIS: A VOICE THAT FOUND ITS MOMENT
Some voices don’t just sing — they remember, they ache, they belong. Ahmed Lais has one of those rare voices.
At just 27, Lais’s journey into the cinematic world is already a compelling story. Many still remember him as the bright-eyed 10-year-old who made his acting debut in one of 2009’s biggest blockbusters. His performance wasn’t just well received — it was extraordinary. He walked away with the Best Debutant (Male) and Best Child Artist awards at the 1st Maldives Film Awards, and earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the prestigious 6th National Film Awards — a rare feat for someone so young.
And yet, instead of riding that wave into a long-acting career, Lais chose a quieter, riskier road — music. While others may have questioned his decision to step away from the spotlight, Lais knew that his voice had its own path to follow. He submitted demos, quietly auditioned for high-profile projects, but his defining moment had yet to arrive.
Until Kan’bulo.
Director Hussain Munawwaru, always a keen observer of raw talent, heard something unmistakable in Lais’s voice — a kind of sorrowful warmth, a tender ache that couldn’t be faked. And when it came time to record the film’s most haunting romantic track, Munawwaru knew exactly who should sing it.
Lais didn’t just step up — he soared.
The result is a song that doesn’t merely accompany a scene; it inhabits it. Lais’s voice trembles with longing and loss, echoing the emotional core of Kan’bulo itself. It’s not showy. It’s not loud. It’s true. And that truth lingers long after the final note fades.
For a young man who once lit up the screen as a child, Ahmed Lais has now left a lasting impression as a vocalist. This isn’t just a song in a film — it’s a moment. And it belongs to him.
Here’s to finding your voice — and to finally being heard.
Kan’bulo is set to release on 31 August 2025.
Mahdi Ahmed 
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