Kochi: Based on the famous book Aadujeevitham, the movie of the same name has released its trailer. Prithviraj plays the migrant worker Najeev who is trapped in a goat farm in the desert of Saudi Arabia.
The short video gives a peek into the raw depiction of the tough life Najeeb lived for years. Prithviraj's appearance in the trailer has left people shocked. The actor lost 24 kgs to get the ragged look of Najeeb. The visuals, cinematography, and music also look promising.
Based on real-life events, the novel had become an overnight sensation in 2008. Najeeb is a Malayali immigrant who has always dreamt to work in the Persian Gulf states so that he can improve the financial situation of his family. But as soon as he lands in Saudi Arabia, he is thrust into a slavelike existence. He is not allowed to contact his family or send money home. He is not paid for his labour or allowed bare human essentials. The latter half of the book shows his escape from the goat farm and journey through the uncharted desert. The trailer offers a look into this journey.
The work on the movie has not yet been finished. The actor took to Instagram to share the trailer and address the leaked scenes. "AADUJEEVITHAM Yes, it was unintentional. No, it wasn’t meant to be “leaked” online. But I guess by now most of you know that the AADUJEEVITHAM trailer, cut exclusively for the festival circuits is online. So here it is, The AADUJEEVITHAM, The GOAT LIFE (unfinished, work in progress) trailer meant exclusively for various festivals around the world. Hope you like what you see," he wrote on Twitter.
The survival drama has been in development hell since 2009. Principal photography took place in phases between March 2018 and July 2022 through five schedules in the deserts of Wadi Rum, Jordan, and the Sahara, Algeria, and some scenes in Kerala. The crew was stranded in Jordan for 70 days during the pandemic. The team is aiming to premiere the film this year at any major film festival, possibly at the Cannes Film Festival. The theatre release is expected in the second half of the year.