Aadujeevitham director, writer break down the Prithviraj film: ‘Studied his mannerisms to present a previously unseen side of him’

During the seventh edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) in Kozhikode, Blessy shared that he must have read the novel Aadujeevitham more times than Benyamin himself. He emphasised the book’s significant impact on readers over the years. The director highlighted the initial challenge faced during filming, which involved sourcing an adequate number of Arabian goats, stressing the importance of accurately representing the species. “It is very important to get the species right. Our goats are different from breeds like Awassi,” he observed.

Blessy recounted meeting the real-life inspiration for the novel, Najeeb, who was emotionally distraught and unable to recall much about his past. “He was crying the whole time. Though I tried to learn more about his life, a shattered Najeeb couldn’t recollect anything anymore,” he said, adding that Prithviraj never met the real Najeeb so that he could portray the character in a fresh and uninfluenced manner.

Benyamin noted that Blessy first studied Prithviraj’s typical mannerisms to present a previously unseen side of the actor. He also commended Prithviraj and composer AR Rahman for their invaluable contributions to the project.

Mentioning that he believes cinema does not hinder the emotions derived from reading, writer Benyamin told the YouTube channel Visual Romance that it only makes our emotions much more colourful and vibrant. He also cited the examples of Chemmeen and Mathilukal and their brilliance to assert his point. “Through collective creativity from all those involved, including the director and the actors, the written text actually reaches another level,” he said, adding that literature and cinema are connected to each other like water and vapour.

Reflecting on their journey, Benyamin revealed that it was in 2009 that he and Blessy decided to collaborate on adapting the novel into a film. Despite facing numerous challenges, he said both of them remained steadfast in their enthusiasm for the project. Benyamin emphasised Blessy’s unwavering determination, highlighting the director’s commitment to completing Aadujeevitham despite obstacles. “He continued pursuing it neglecting even his health,” the writer added.

Recently, Prithviraj had unveiled a new poster from the upcoming film. Speaking about the project, Prithviraj stated, “I knew The Goat Life was a challenging film to make, and I was fully aware of the challenges I would face throughout its production. Despite that, it pushed me to my limits, both physically and mentally. I have dedicated five years of my life to my character in the film, Najeeb. Having undergone extreme physical transformations more than once, it was my goal to perfect the look and feel of the character. We also hope the audience enjoys the film as much as we enjoyed making it.”