Review : The Goat Life : Extraordinaire survival drama!
Sometime back, #ShahrukhKhan starrer #Dunki presented the hardships and difficulties faced by the illegal Indian immigrants. The film offered entertainment too while showcasing the struggles of illegal immigrants. In a recently released #TheGoatLife, it is shown how a legal immigrant is duped and forced to lead a life of destitution. In The Goat Life actor #PrithvirajSukumaran has delivered a finest performance of his career, which could be termed, mind boggling. The transformation he has gone through in the film is commendable. It is based on Benjamin’s Aadujeevitham, The Goat Life shows the suffering and endurance of the protagonist, which may be inspirational for some.
Najeeb (Prithviraj Sukumaran), a native of Kerala, is looking for a good life and decides to go the Middle East so that he can earn good money to have a good life with his wife Saini (Amala Paul) and mother Ummah (Shobha Mohan). He embarks on a journey to Gulf through an agent but lands in the clutches of a merciless Arab. He is forced to do a ‘job’ of ferrying a herd of goats in the desert. His employer is ruthless and hardly offers him food or shelter, though he feeds goats and camels. He knows that he is trapped and faces a state of privation. Even water is sparsely available. Despite hardships Najeeb never loses hope and decides to break the shackles and with the help of Ibrahim Khadri (Jimmy John Louis) and his lost friend Hakeem (KR Gokul), embarks on a journey back home by walking in the desert. What transpires around it forms the crux of the film.
The story moves ahead with minutest details and even captures goat’s expressions. Blessy’s sincerity in direction is commendable. He never succumbs to show something out of the context to make the happenings interesting. But he should have avoided the repetition and curtailed the movies’ length because three hours seems too long for a movie like this. The cinematography is excellent and the desert is made to look beautiful. (People who have taken a Desert Safari Ride in Dubai may understand it better). AR Rahman’s music is an asset to the film. Prithviraj Sukumaran has done a marvellous job and deserves a National Award. His transformation is extraordinary and your heart goes for him. The blink of hope seen in his eyes say a lot about his acting. Amala Paul looks beautiful on screen and romance in the river is contrasting to the life in desert for the protagonist. Others lend good support.
The Goat Life is not for the weak hearted wherein Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers super outstanding performance.
Rating : ***1/2