The evening when Najeeb Muhammed, the real-life inspiration for the film Aadujeevitham, watched its premiere, blended fiction with reality. The film casts Prithviraj Sukumaran as Najeeb, depicting the harsh trials of a Kerala migrant worker ensnared in forced labor as a goat herder on an isolated farm in Saudi Arabia.
Najeeb attended the debut of the Blessy-directed thriller, which debuted to critical acclaim last Thursday. Overwhelmed by the portrayal, he was quoted by Times Now praising Prithviraj’s “tremendous” portrayal. Despite grappling with a personal tragedy, Najeeb was motivated to attend the screening in hopes that the film would resonate widely.
He shared his emotional reaction with the Times, stating, “I spent most of the scenes in tears, and at times, it was too painful to watch. I’ve received numerous messages from people saying they’ve booked their tickets and are eager to see the film… My infant grandson passed away last week. Despite the family emergency, they encouraged me to attend. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have considered it. My only wish is for the film’s success and for everyone to see it.”
Aadujeevitham, or The Goat Life, retells the harrowing tale from the 2008 bestselling Malayalam novel by Benyamin. It chronicles Najeeb’s ordeal of forced labor as a goat herder in the Saudi desert, a testament to human survival under dire circumstances.
The film has not just received critical praise but has also made a significant impact at the box office, marking one of the most remarkable openings in Malayalam cinema history. With the film’s popularity continuing to rise, Aadujeevitham promises to be a significant success, buoyed by strong audience support and favorable reviews.
News18.com gave the film a 3 star rating and wrote, “Acting, cinematography, story, and screenplay, everything makes it a cinematic experience you should not miss out on.”
Speaking with us exclusively, Prithviraj opened up about his physical transformation in the film. The actor lost 31 kilos for the film. “I personally never thought that this was possible. [The most grilling part about it was] the hunger. Because it didn’t involve dieting. It involved me not eating. My transformation was majorly based on fasting. There were times when I was on a 3-day fast,” he shared.
The film has been in the making for almost 16 years. It was first conceptualised in 2008 by Blessy and Sukumaran had agreed to play the part later that year. “I don’t know if it can be classified as a movie experience any longer. It’s more like a part of my life now. I said yes to this film in 2008, and here we are in 2024. That’s about a 16-year-long journey. I am only 41 now, so, 16 years of 41 is a substantial period of your life,” he added.
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