Malayalam film industry has given two survival dramas one after the other. The first is a Manjummel Boys that revolved around a set of friends joining hands to rescue their buddy. The second one is a film from National Award winning veteran director Blessy, also within the gap of a month, which is a survival drama about a man surviving unbearable pain during the time he was lost in deserts, a deserted place without human beings. I am talking about Aadujeevitham, the Goat Life, is a film based on the book with the same title written by the renowned writer Benyamin. The book’s story is fictional and is said to be inspired by real life events of one of the friends of the author who was stranded in some forgotten Middle East for some years.

Najeeb and Hakeem entered a GCC country, and the specific country was not mentioned for obvious reasons. As most of the Malayalis, from poor to the middle-clad, almost everyone who landed at any GCC country did the job, to start a new source of income and preserve income for their families back in Kerala. They were not versed in any language apart from their tongue. The duo was clueless about who would be posted in the arrival gate.

Najeeb and Hakeem spent the whole day at the airport, hoping that the sponsor would pick them. Then both men did not panic again when the oddly dressed old Arab took their passports and asked them to get into his vehicle. Since they both did not know the local language, and the old Arab was known to them, they simply climbed into the car without asking anything and only asked to call their family in India so that they know that they arrived. However, the car was full of these Arabs several. They drove them into the desert, and as soon as they arrived there Hakeem was taken away from Najeeb. He begged them to take them to the city but they did not listen to him. Both men were shocked by the change of circumstances, and they could not get out of the situation because of the language barrier. Both were under the impression they were cheated by the people who collected their money for visas that would guarantee them a good job. 

Was Najeeb Hoping To Be Helped By The Unknown Arab?

With Najeeb and Hakeem separated, Najeeb found himself in unfamiliar location at the farm where he was brought. The sight of camels and goats needing herding made him happy, especially with another man already well-versed in the job. Witnessing the condition of the Hindi-speaking worker stirred Najeeb’s thoughts about his own life.

Feeling lost without guidance, Najeeb faced more challenges as the locals treated him like a laborer, expecting him to adapt to farm work without explanation. Language barriers only compounded his struggles, leaving Najeeb longing for assistance that never came. Despite facing adversity, Najeeb persevered, gradually adjusting to life on the farm despite the lack of proper nourishment and clothing.

Why Couldn’t Najeeb Get Out Of The Situation?

Najeeb tried to solve the situation; he tried to stop it and share his troubles to the Hindi-speaking driver who got water to the farm. Unfortunately, owners of the farm and other local Arab, a guard with a rifle, always watched Najeeb. In several months, he did not look like Najeeb, but it did not stop him from his main purpose – to leave this farm. However, one of the unknown Arab followed him; it was the man who tried to kill him many times. When he, the witness of how the Hindi-speaking man who tended animals died at the farm, saw his body being consumed by vultures, he realized that he would not die in this place.

Did Najeeb Get In Touch With Hakeem?

Najeeb had now been on the farm for a few years and lost the sense of time awareness. while taking care of the goats and the camels. He was now unrecognizable and had become timid because of the poor living conditions. At times, the animals he was taking care of could sense his pain and chose to listen to his instructions. During one of his trips with the herd, Najeeb heard someone singing a song, and there was a lot of pain in his voice. Najeeb was shocked to find it was Hakeem who was singing while at work. Najeeb had lost hope of ever meeting Hakeem, but destiny reunited them under dreadful circumstances. Najeeb could not converse, as he had almost lost his voice because of the harsh conditions he was living in. Hakeem discussed his plans to leave the farm as an African named Ibrahim Kadri offered to help them. Ibrahim was aware of the direction they’d have to head to reach the main road. This was their only chance to leave; Najeeb and Hakeem were in no mood to give up the opportunity. 

Did Najeeb Get Off The Farm?

When Najeeb’s sponsors left for a wedding, he left the farm forever, and they would be back the following day. That was the only chance he got to wash for the first time after several years and he also fed his only kin, the animals, who were the only to be nice to him. Hakeem’ and Ibrahim Kadri were already there, and with Najeeb, the three of them started a difficult trip toward the road.

What Happened To The Trio On The Way To Seek The Road? 

Najeeb, Hakeem and Ibrahim Kadri had a tough journey through the desert to find the main road. Many hardships crossed their path; lack of water and Najeeb’s lost shoes. The sun in the desert and the lengthy walk made them see a mirage of an oasis. Najeeb developed blisters from the sun on his legs and Ibrahim Kadri had to put a torn jacket on his feet to be sure he wouldn’t shoot. They couldn’t find water as much as they tried for water and met several snakes but survived.

Who Helped Najeeb?

A weak and confident Najeeb kept fearing vehicles passing by and thought one of them would allow him in out of duty to admit him in any hospital. The audience’s hope dreamed that his getting the main road would make him suffer no more. Regrettably, not everyone’s dreams allowed many to stop and help him as they drove away, fearing the consequences of helping a stranger without just any paper to show him. It was mere luck that an Arab driving a Rolls Royce prayed for improving his circumstances till he reached the city and felt okay. The irony here was in his being brutally forced by one and rescued by a stranger from the locals who had other opposite behavior from the same land. The rich Arab did not care for his well-being and did not consider a place to sleep, but he made sure water was provided to Najeeb, as well as did not bother about his dirty clothes that spoiled the luxury car’s seating. Afterward, the Arabs threw him in the city near a mosque. Hence, God would help Najeeb, and circumstances would most likely improve for him.

Najeeb Come Back Home?

Finally it was a malayalee who saved his life or else he assumed it by understanding Najeeb’s state and chose to share his early lodging with him. Most of the people there were annoyed by me like I had nothing remaining with me, the two guys who provided me shelter in their place clothes the clothes I should wear, cut my hair and provided food to eat as much as possible, but they had to follow a severe law of land which meant to work as the owner of the land and the workers were slaves only. Apart from the fact that a slave is progressively regaining his physical self, the trauma he encounters never deserts his body. It was always frightened of one minor thing. It all possible yet it would go wrong because of this single fear he was always afraid to remove; they may send me back to the farm. I was allowed to speak to my wife and mother, which was a great relief. His family had lost hope that they would never hear from him as he had never gotten an opportunity to call. However, the survival was a miracle, and he could not wait to go back to his family. I felt that I would be jailed since they had taken my passport and papers. Therefore, if it only meant they sent me back in some years, I prepared to serve the jail term. It was so shocking to see the picture of Ibrahim Kadri with the identification as one of the fugitives at the police station near Nashwa. Maybe Ibrahim Kadri knew the road was not that far, and his only duty was to help me to know where it was. He probably never wanted Najeeb to get into further trouble if the local authorities could see him with Ibrahim, who was convicted as a criminal.

The Goat Life ended with several sponsors made a bombard visit to the prison and took their people back. Amongst all, the man who took Najeeb to the desert was also there; he was hoping the Arabs would not recognize him; by devine luck, that Arab could not take Najeeb back, as he was not a sponsore. That killed Najeeb, as he had wasted the prime years of his life working for the wrong man, who almost killed him, but the moment was gone quickly, he was now saved from years of brutality. Najeeb was clearly suffering from PTSD after he sighted the Arab he had seen arriving with another Arab and pretending to be his sponsor. Najeeb could smile no longer! Najeeb went back home after tumbling in UAE’s jail for how many years. Everyone sets their foot in GCC with the vision of returning with hundreds of presents. For Najeeb, being alive was a present to himself and his family.