Fathimath Rauf

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Fathimath Rauf is a Maldivian singer born on October 7, 1959, in Male, Maldives. She is best known as a playback singer for films, TV, and non-film music, with a career that helped shape Maldivian pop and cinema music.

Life and career
- Rauf grew up in the Masodi family, a group of local artists. At age 13, her father encouraged her to sing on stage, and she quickly caught the attention of music directors.
- She began singing for film and television projects and became a prominent performer with the Olympians, a local band, while also performing on stage shows.
- She later worked at the National Centre for the Arts and served the government until her retirement in August 2017.

Awards and recognition
- National Award of Recognition for Performing Arts – Singing (1983). She was the third Maldivian female singer to receive this honour.
- Gaumee Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song Loabin Ujaalaa from the film Dhon Manma (1992).

Discography highlights
- Feature film songs, including hits from 1982 to 2005, such as Loabin Ujaalaa from Dhon Manma (for which she won the Gaumee Award) and other notable tracks in films like Orchid – Eynaage Maa, Amaanaaiy, Zuleykha, and Dhon Manma.
- Television songs and performances for various series in the 1990s and 2000s.
- Non-film songs and singles released over the years.

Later years and recent work
- In 2021, she released Soba With Tharin: Fathimath Raoof, a collaborative project with Hussain Sobah, featuring several tracks.
- She continued to release singles in 2022–2024, including Edhey Loabi Heelun and Fennan Fesheemaa, among others, showcasing her lasting influence in Maldivian music.

Legacy
Fathimath Rauf is remembered as a pioneering Maldivian singer whose work spans decades, greatly contributing to the country’s music and film industries. She remains a respected figure in Maldives’ musical history.