Aadujeevatham | The Goat Life ***

Watched in Theatre

Language: Malayalam

Genre: Drama, True Story

I watched the film Aadujeevitham last night, and I must say it left me with a profound sense of emptiness that lingered into this morning.

It is a MUST WATCH for all Gulf Malayalee kids to understand how difficult it is to live in a country where, despite having different seasons, everything looks the same. The routine work and the monotony of the days make each season blend into the next.

Prithviraj has outdone himself, and he can surely be proud of what he has achieved.

• Every shot made you feel exactly what the director intended.

• Love was portrayed in an over-the-top and sensuous manner.

• Despair was almost unbearable to watch, let alone feel.

• Ruthlessness without rhyme or reason left you questioning... why him?

• Scenes meant to turn your gut did so effortlessly..

Of course, even though the story is inspired by true events, the author of the book from which the film is adapted took creative liberties, as did the director of the film.

The movie explores the lives of good people and bad people, both praying to the same God. By the end, it leaves you wondering: if these two were left to this fate, were another two saved from it? The film focuses solely on Najeeb’s angst and tribulations, leaving out what his family must have felt and gone through. However, one can only imagine, as each of us Malayalees has lived through the uncertainties of the Gulf Malayalee experience.

Movie Critic Perspective:

• If you're expecting a song to break out in the desert, transforming it into a beach, this film is not for you.

• If you're looking for action-packed scenes with characters defying gravity, this film is not for you.

• If you're seeking an adrenaline rush and displays of machismo, this film is not for you.

As a critic, I found the film to be a bit slow, with some over-dramatized segments and a few scenes where logic seemed to be ignored. However, it remains a worthwhile watch to appreciate the earnest efforts of the entire crew in making this film.

Music: AR Rahman still has it. The background score is masterfully crafted, making you feel as if he was present during the editing process. Every silence and emotion are amplified with the perfect tune. You will feel the yearning of an isolated man, his cry for help to God, and his anger at his fate. The blend of Arabic, Indian, and Western music is best experienced in a theater setting. The soundtrack truly finds its meaning only when paired with the film.

The movie is an ode to every human who takes risks in life to ensure their family back home survives and lives a better life. But it leaves you wondering... at what cost?

Many Malayalees end up working in factories or as helpers, living 10 to 20 in a single room with zero privacy, sharing 1-2 washrooms, eating food they don't enjoy, and enduring a climate their bodies and minds cannot adapt to. Phone calls to family are rare, as even that money is saved to buy a little something extra when they visit home.

There's a poignant dialogue in the film when Najeeb manages to escape and is boarding the flight back home: "Everyone eagerly awaits your homecoming at the airport, only to find out what you have brought along with you… a TV, a tape recorder, a mixie..."

As a Gulf Malayalee product, this movie hurt me and will continue to do so. I may be wrong, but I think it’s very difficult for these families to become 'whole' again, even once they start living together. The gap created over the years remains, and daily life becomes a struggle to survive as one.

This was an important story to tell. There are likely many such untold stories. To all those who worked without their families beside them, but for them: Thank you, and more than that, sorry.

-SuVi

2024

*****Fantabulous

****Great

***Nice

**Okay

*Why?