The Goat Life

All things considered a neat adaptation of Aadujeevitham. I read the novel around 15 years ago and loved it. I don't remember everything from it but there were some standout moments from the novel that I missed here. Maybe those were the more fictional aspects of the novel and this could be closer to Najeeb's real life, I don't know. But it really felt like that in the first half there was so much focus on certain aspects that could've been shortened with more impact even if they didn't include the parts from the book that I wanted to see since it's already three hours. The initial portions of Prithviraj as the newly arrived immigrant were also not as convincing as I would've liked. But the film fully commits in every department in the second half and makes such a beautiful experience. Prithviraj's transformation and his suffering are portrayed as a person who is very normal and innocent in contrast to the similar character in Mariyan (which took a lot of inspiration from this novel) who was essentially portrayed as a hero. Periyone song was incredible but it was too short and didn't fully give the impact it could've. In fact, a lot of scenes suffer from this because of poor editing. Other than Periyone, most of the music is either too much or just not matching what is going on. Honestly disappointed with the music. Even the ending of the movie felt a little abrupt, especially considering how the flashbacks were set up but it ended without the full payoff.

Even with all the problems I had Aadujeevitham is a solid movie and a neat adaptation of the novel with incredible performances, especially from Prithviraj. As someone who had read the novel, there were a lot of things that were easier to understand and also other things that I was disappointed with. It felt like it would be an entirely different experience for those who haven't read the novel.

The film's narrative is gripping, capturing the essence of Najeeb's journey in the harsh desert landscape, where he is forced to live as a shepherd under inhumane conditions. The screenplay, also penned by Blessy, stays true to the essence of the novel, conveying the agony and hope of Najeeb with an unflinching honesty. The dialogues are sparse but powerful, resonating deeply with the audience and evoking a wide range of emotions.

Aadujeevitham's cinematography is another highlight, with the expansive deserts and harsh environments beautifully captured by the lens. The film's visual storytelling complements its narrative, making the audience feel the isolation and desolation that Najeeb experiences. The use of natural light and the sweeping shots of the desert landscape create a hauntingly beautiful backdrop that enhances the story's emotional impact.

The music and background score by A. R. Rahman add an additional layer of depth to the film, subtly underscoring the narrative's highs and lows. Rahman's compositions are evocative and poignant, perfectly aligning with the film's tone and enhancing the overall viewing experience.

This story is totally based on Real Life and not for faint hearted. The elements used in this entire cinema is totally believable and close to reality of Gulf-Countries Slavery Lives. One of my close one also faced same kind of situations over there and fortunately escaped from that misery but it's sad to see that in this 21st century as well some peoples are going there in search of Good Life and Ended up after becoming a Slave of some Sheikhs'. A beautiful movie that everyone should go for..

People are calling it overhyped! But let me clear you that you must have patience to watch it completely because the duration of this movie is around 3hrs with extremely slow level of Screenplay. Although Cinematography is quite rich and extremely beautiful still it could have been 20-25Min Short for sure. The survival instincts are shown very clearly and the way the Director paid attentions to minute details are praise worthy. Storyline is extremely simple and interesting to feel. The Best part of this movie is Leading Actor's Performance. I guess 90% of the time Camera focused on the main character and yeah our Hero nailed his role brilliantly. Music was also extremely good as A. R Rehman was associated with it's music.

Overall a Good movie and not for Family audiences as it have a love making scene in the movie and a total naked body of our leading character is shown in very details. And of course those who are soft-hearted shouldn't go for it.. From my side it will be 7 Out of 10 Stars for it..

The movie probably went a bit overboard in telling its story. The actor's performance was too much, almost like they were trying too hard, and the film made the characters' problems seem bigger than they really are. I get that sometimes a movie needs to amp up the emotions to make a point, but here, it kept that intense level from start to finish and didn't even wrap up the story well. This made the movie feel like it was just trying to make us feel sorry for the characters, rather than telling a good story.

However, the movie does have a meaningful message at its core, and in some places, the over-the-top acting might have been necessary to get the emotions across. But sticking with that approach all the way through, without giving the story a proper ending, was a mistake that turned the movie into what felt like a long plea for sympathy.

There's one good thing that might come out of this movie, though. It could make people think twice about making reckless decisions, like jumping into something risky without thinking it through. If the exaggerated struggles shown in the movie make viewers more cautious about taking big risks without planning, then at least the movie has done something useful. In a roundabout way, the movie's over-the-top take on its story could end up being a warning to think carefully before diving into something dangerous.

"Aadujeevitham," which translates to "The Goat Life," is a Malayalam film based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Benyamin. It follows Najeeb, a young man from Kerala who is lured by the promise of a better life abroad. However, his dreams turn into a nightmare when he ends up trapped in forced labor at a remote goat farm in the Middle East. The film, directed by Blessy, is a passion project that took nearly 16 years to complete. Starring Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead role, "Aadujeevitham" is a powerful story of resilience, longing for home, and the fight for survival in desperate circumstances. It is based on true events and is considered a thought-provoking social commentary. The film is an outstanding portrayal of the dark incidents that happened in the life of a person from Kerala and is well-crafted to show 100% reality and truth. Some people may find it uncomfortable to accept this reality, but their discomfort will not change the truth. It is an Oscar-worthy movie. For those who are struggling to accept it, keep crying. My rating: 10/10. Outstanding film.