Aadujeevitham, featuring Prithviraj Sukumaran, is undeniably one of the most impactful movies to come out of the Malayalam film industry, which is already recognized as one of the finest in the country. The Blessy-directed film, adapted from Benyamin’s acclaimed novel Aadujeevitham, portrays the harsh realities faced by Najeeb, who embarked on a journey to Saudi Arabia in search of a better life, only to find himself trapped in a life akin to slavery in the desert. However, a certain group of online users are left wondering about Najeeb, who manages to escape from the desert farm and eventually ends up in a detention center, where he encounters his former master but is let go. The question arises as to why the Arab did not take him back and how Najeeb eventually finds his way onto a flight back home to freedom. To find out what unfolds at the conclusion of Aadujeevitham, you can go ahead and continue reading. (Warning: Spoilers ahead!).
Najeeb, a worker from Kerala, arrives in the Gulf with Hakeem in the hopes of securing a brighter future, much like many Malayalees did in the 1970s and 1980s. Despite waiting for hours at the airport for their sponsor to collect them, an Arab man approaches them and confiscates their passports. Believing he is their sponsor, they accompany him, unaware that their fates have changed forever. Instead of the factory job they were promised, Najeeb is subjected to physical abuse and coercion to work as a goatherd at Masara (the farm), deprived of even the most basic necessities such as proper food, water, and shelter. After years spent in Masara, accompanied only by his goats and camels, Najeeb’s hope is reignited when Hakeem, a fellow worker from a nearby farm, approaches him with an escape plan devised by their colleague Ibrahim Khadiri. Following Ibrahim Khadiri through the vast desert, Najeeb and Hakeem endure harsh conditions, including desert storms and venomous snakes. Unfortunately, Hakeem does not survive the journey, and Ibrahim mysteriously vanishes. An alone Najeeb finally spots a road and returns to civilization with the assistance of a compassionate Arab. Lacking official documents, he is unable to board a flight home and surrenders to the authorities. Despite being imprisoned, Najeeb gets access to the basic necessities of food and water in prison, which were previously withheld from him in Masara.
As Najeeb starts to see a glimmer of hope, his Arab master arrives at the prison to identify escaped laborers. Najeeb fears the worst, envisioning a return to his dreadful life at Masara. However, the master passes him by, saying something under his breath. A terrified Najeeb learns from another prisoner that the Arab cannot take him as he is not his official sponsor. Najeeb realizes that he suffered brutal torture from someone who had no authority over him. The scene shifts to a plane with illegal immigrants preparing to return home. Instead of gifts and perfumes, Najeeb has only his life to offer his wife Sainu and child, whom he has yet to meet.
Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) is currently available to stream on Netflix and features Prithviraj Sukumaran as the lead. Prithviraj’s remarkable portrayal of a man fighting for survival in a desert farm has garnered praise for his outstanding performance in the movie. By depicting Najeeb’s distressing journey, the film brings attention to the numerous Malayali workers who endured unimaginable hardships in the Middle East.
