Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life Movie Review
16 years of dream in materializing a hard-hitting and heart-wrenching tale of desolation and redemption comes on big screens. ‘Aadujeevitham’, a biographical tale of Najeeb, written by a novelist named Benyamin, and directed by Blessy, features Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead character. AR Rahman is composing music for this film, which is releasing in 5 languages all over the world today.
The movie, which lasts for 3 hours, starts off slowly, taking its time to introduce the main character and his journey to the vast deserts of Masara, Saudi Arabia. In this remote place surrounded by towering sand dunes, Najeeb is left alone with only goats and camels for company. Unfortunately, he becomes trapped in a desolate village where he suffers through brutal torture as a slave. It’s understandable that condensing such a detailed story into a 3-hour film presents certain challenges. As a result, there are certain aspects that the movie fails to capture, which could have added an extra layer of emotion for the audience. Prithviraj Sukumaran has given his best by shedding and gaining weight, getting baked under the sun kissing deserts, and one can really understand his laborious efforts.
In case you are seeking an example, consider the portrayal of the protagonist’s pregnant wife Sainu, portrayed by Amala Paul. Although the original novel delves deeper into her character, the film only includes a few flashback scenes to outline her personality. This actually turns out to be a sort of little disappointment for the ones, who have read the novel, and if you haven’t, the feeble character and lack of emotions will cut down your connection with the protagonist’s pain now and then. The film’s journey is propelled by the sheer technical mastery of the crew. AR Rahman’s mesmerizing background music serves as the sole companion amidst the vast deserts, skillfully capturing the protagonist’s pathos, pain, and emotions. The heartwarming bond between Najeeb and the cattles is beautifully portrayed, showcasing a kindness that seems to be missing in humanity.
In few places, there seems to be a sort of boredom, as we are inclined to just a single character. Nothing to blame the artistes or technicians, but still it’s a genre of ‘Drama’, and the audiences, must be little patient enough to experience it. The story’s momentum slightly shoots up with the arrival of Ibrahim Qadri, played by Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean Louis.
When the movie ends, we find the reunion and redemption together, which would definitely offer smile on faces after a prolonged phase of lump in throats. However, it could have been finer, if the ending was refined, thereby adding some emotional conclusion to the tale.
Despite little drawbacks, Aadujeevitham definitely deserves a watch for the arduous efforts of the whole team for 16 long years.
