Prithviraj Sukumaran’s latest survival thriller, Aadujeevitham, currently captivates theater audiences with its gripping storytelling and stellar cast performances. Following the movie’s release, fans are wondering whether the movie is based on a true incident. Let’s explore further to uncover the truth.
Adapted from the novel authored by Benyamin, Aadujeevitham has been brought to life under the visionary direction of Blessy. The film’s journey to the silver screen spanned nearly 15-16 years, with the filming taking place in the deserts of Jordan, Wadi Rum, the Sahara, and various other locations in Kerala.
Alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran, the movie boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Amala Paul, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Shobha Mohan, and others. Produced with a budget of $9.6 million, the project has been helmed by Visual Romance Image Makers, Jet Media Production, and Alta Global Media banners.
Aadujeevitham’s real-life story explored
Hailing from the village of Arattupuzha near Haripad town in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, Najeeb initially earned his livelihood by mining sand from a river. However, in 1992, he was able to seek employment in Saudi Arabia. To get a dignified life for himself and his family, Najeeb gathered the necessary funds to secure his visa for migration.
In an interview with The News Minute in 2018, Najeeb disclosed, “I paid Rs 55,000 for the visa. We had to sell land to arrange the money. If the land was still there, it could have been sold for lakhs of rupees.”
Upon reaching King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Najeeb’s aspirations shattered when he fell victim to kidnapping. Subsequently, he found himself on a desert goat farm, coerced into slavery, and tasked with herding hundreds of goats.
While sharing more details about the incident and his boss, Najeeb further disclosed that “He had no remorse even when he saw me crying and would beat me. I had to eat stale khubus. I would use goat’s milk to wet the khubus and eat it. The goats were not bathed and the stench would be there in the milk as well. But I had nothing else to eat, the khubus was too dry to eat without the milk.”
Najeeb hadn’t spoken to anyone for the entire two years except his boss. But one night, when his boss was away from the farm, he fled. Later, he surrendered to the authorities, who enabled him to apply for a “free out pass” in India. Upon returning, Najeeb resumed his work as a daily wage laborer. To experience this story on big screens, you can catch Aadujeevitham in nearby theaters.
