The Goat Life

 The Goat Life

Aadujeevitham, known internationally as The Goat Life, is a Malayalam-language survival drama film set to be released in 2024. It is written, directed, and co-produced by Blessy, and represents a collaborative effort between production companies from India and the United States.

This work is an adaptation of the acclaimed Malayalam novel Aadujeevitham, authored by Benyamin in 2008, which draws inspiration from the true story of Najeeb, a Malayali laborer who immigrated to the Gulf region.

The film features Prithviraj Sukumaran, Jimmy Jean-Louis, and K. R. Gokul in prominent roles, while Talib Al Balushi, Rik Aby, Amala Paul, and Shobha Mohan provide supporting performances.

Initially, the film faced a ban in the GCC nations, excluding the UAE; however, this ban was later revoked in all countries except for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the novel on which the film is based was also previously prohibited in these same regions.

Blessy has aspired to adapt Aadujeevitham since he first encountered the novel in 2008, casting Prithviraj in the leading role. The subsequent year, he acquired the rights from Benyamin and commenced work on the screenplay. 

Unfortunately, due to financial limitations that hindered significant advancement, the film entered a prolonged period of stalled development. After years of seeking a producer, Blessy finally secured one in 2015, which enabled the project to progress. Jimmy Jean-Louis and Steven Adams came on board as co-producers alongside Blessy. The original score and songs for the film were composed by A. R. Rahman.

 The principal photography was conducted in stages from March 2018 to July 2022, encompassing six shooting schedules in the deserts of Wadi Rum, Jordan, and the Sahara Desert in Algeria, with additional scenes filmed in Kerala, India. The crew experienced a 70-day delay in Jordan from March to May 2020 as a result of restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. They were ultimately repatriated to India through the Indian government's evacuation initiative, known as the Vande Bharat Mission. The filming was completed on 14 July 2022.

The film premiered globally on 28 March 2024 and has since earned more than ₹160 crore approximately US$19 million. The Goat Life is presently ranked as the third highest-grossing Malayalam film in history, the second highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2024, the fourth highest-grossing South Indian film of the year, and is recognized as one of the top-grossing Indian films of 2024.

Plot

In Saudi Arabia, two Malayali immigrants, Najeeb Muhammed and Hakim, arrive in pursuit of a better life, having secured visas through their acquaintance Sreekumar. Upon their arrival, they find themselves stranded at the airport, unaware of the identity of their employer. An Arab local mistakenly assumes the role of their boss and approaches them. After a lengthy journey, the two friends are separated, with Najeeb assigned to work in a distant desert, tending to goats.

Facing severe conditions and solitude, Najeeb observes the death of another goatherd, coming to understand the danger he faces. Following years of hardship, he reunites with Hakim, who introduces him to Ibrahim Khadiri, a Somalian goatherd familiar with escape paths. They take advantage of a chance during Khafeel's daughter's wedding to escape into the desert.

Their expedition becomes increasingly dangerous as they encounter difficulties in securing food and navigating their path, leading to Hakim's death and Najeeb's close brush with mortality. In due course, Khadiri also vanishes. Isolated in the desert, Najeeb ultimately finds his way to civilization with the assistance of a passing Arab and discovers a local Malayali restaurant run by Kunjikka, who tends to his recovery.

Nevertheless, Najeeb's challenges are not yet resolved. He faces incarceration due to complications with his documentation and encounters the Khafeel, who abandons him since he is not his official sponsor and is unable to assist him further. Despite these obstacles, Najeeb eventually makes his way back home.