Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Amala Paul, Jimmy Jean Louis, Shobha Mohan, KR Gokul, Talib Al Balushi, Rik Aby, and Nazer Karutheni
Crew:
Based on Aadujeevitham book written by Benyamin based on true events
Cinematography by Sunil KS
Edited by A Sreekar Prasad
Music Composed by AR Rahman
Written & Directed by Blessy
Produced by Blessy, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Steven Adams
Aadujeevitham/The Goat Life Movie Rating: 2.5/5
Aadujeevitham novel talked about the hardships faced by illegal Malayee immigrants to Gulf Countries. The book equates modern day slavery to Goat herds. Hence, when the movie is announced adapting the book to screen, many readers got excited. A talented director like Blessy putting his 16 prime years to bring this book to celluloid and Prithviraj Sukumaran headlining the cast also added to the interest. The movie after long delays in production, finally arrived in theatres on 28th March. Let’s discuss about it in detail.
Plot:
Najeeb(Prithviraj Sukumaran) and Hakeem(Gokul) land in a Gulf Country together waiting for their sponsorer. No one arrives for them but suddenly, one person asks them to get into his Goat Herd Jeep and both are confused by his behaviour. While they are promised one kind of life, they face humiliations and rage of this Khafila. They understand that they have been cheated and sold off as slaves to herd Goats and Camels in a desert. Can they escape from this situation? If they can, how? Watch the movie to know more.
Analysis:
Prithviraj Sukumaran is one of great actors of Modern Indian Cinema and he proves it once again. He doesn’t lose his character for one bit in the film and doesn’t mind to be tortured and weakened subject while he is a box office star. His surrender to character and the vision of the director makes this film, makes his performance more special. We can say that all others have also delivered their best but Prithviraj shines over obviously. Jimmy Jean Louis character is designed well but his performance doesn’t last with us.
Coming to writing, director tried to capture the essence of the metaphorical tone of the book on to screen. He made honest effort to bring those metaphors about Goat and humans being treated in similar fashion right from milking goats to humans or slaves not being allowed to leave the herd/ Masara. Illegal immigrants do face humiliations and issues in the hands of wealthy sponsors even in this day and age as these sponsorers fancy slaves in the name of helpers. The Goat Life makes a honest attempt to talk about this issue and highlight the value of freedom.
While immigration is not a problem, using it inhumane way to fulfill their needs is criminal. The movie says this out in an indirect fashion without being too much on the face. Production values, sound editing, BGM and songs by AR Rahman, VFX work all enhance the vision of the director and this message as well. Yet, movie feels too long and suffers a snaggy narrative in the later half. Mainly, Ibrahim character and the journey through harsh desert doesn’t really appeal to us as much as the earlier portions. At one point, we just ask for the film to skip to the climax that is obvious.
The reason behind such a reaction seems to be the indulgence of director in talking about the hardships and hardships only. Yes, it is understandable that he is going for the suffocation and hopelessness that the main character is facing in such stretchs. But the sequences look repetitive and slightly over dramatised giving more importance to a new character introduced than the primary ones. On the whole, the indulgence did cost the maker, a memorable film, one feels so.
Positives:
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s lived-in character performance
Believability factor
Production Values
Technical excellence
Negatives:
Indulgence of the director
Stretched second half
Underwhelming desert portions
Repetitive narrative
Aadujeevitham/ The Goat Life Movie Bottom-line: Only for performances