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Prithviraj Sukumaran’s dream project, “The Goat Life,” which has been in the making for many years, has finally hit the screens today. The movie, directed by Blessy, is based on one of the best-selling Malayalam novels, Aadujeevitham. Mythri Movie Makers presented the film to the Telugu audience. Let’s see how the movie is.

Story:

Najeeb (Prithviraj Sukumaran), along with his companion Hakeem (KR Gokul), lands in Saudi Arabia for work. They don’t know either Hindi or English, and they look clueless in the airport. When they wait for their sponsor, Khafeel (Talib Al Balushi) understands that it is easy to cheat Najeeb and Hakeem. Khafeel takes them along with him. Najeeb is made a goatherd in a secluded farm in a desert region. He also gets separated from Hakeem. What did Najeeb do then is what The Goat Life is about.

Plus Points:

Kudos to Prithviraj Sukumaran for always trying different scripts. Attempting a film like The Goat Life is very risky, but the star Malayalam hero didn’t have any inhibitions. Prithviraj has put his blood, sweat, and tears into the film and it is impossible not to fall in love with his incredible performance. He breathed life into Najeeb’s character beautifully and showcased the helplessness in his role amazingly. The kind of different makeovers Prithviraj has undergone for The Goat Life is stunning.

Almost the entire film happens in the desert region, and the team has put in a herculean effort that needs special mention. The desert visuals and background score drive the film forward.

The sandstorm sequence, which comes at a crucial juncture, is well presented. Comparatively the second half is slightly better than the first half. Jimmy Jean-Louis and KR Gokul are pretty good in their supporting roles.

Minus Points:

Though it has been mentioned in the promotional interviews that The Goat Life isn’t an award film, the movie doesn’t have any commercial elements as such. So, if you walk in expecting a commercial entertainer, the movie might disappoint you.

The plight of the protagonist is shown in a realistic and detailed manner, which might bore a few. The movie doesn’t look cinematic at any point, which may not sit well with all sections. Prithviraj’s character can’t speak English or Hindi, so it takes a while for him to understand that he is being cheated. All these minute aspects are shown in a comprehensive way which takes more screentime.

The entire first half unfolds at a very slow pace, and this might get on to your nerves. Sometimes, it feels as if the story isn’t moving forward. It would have been better had the movie showcased the suffering of the protagonist’s family members, too. Amala Paul’s role could have been better presented.

Technical Aspects:

The background score by AR Rahman is pretty good and lifts the impact of multiple sequences. The cinematography by Sunil K.S. is commendable, and he effectively captured the suffering and pain of Prithviraj. The editing in the first half could have been better.

Coming to the director, Blessy, he narrated the story in an in-depth manner, but it would have been better had the movie team taken care of the length, which is too long. The first half could have been handled well.

Verdict:

On the whole, The Goat Life is a genuine attempt to depict a real-life survival story, but the slow pacing and the absence of commercial elements might restrict the film’s appeal. The lengthy runtime also is a big drawback. Prithviraj Sukumaran is outstanding in his role and he might win awards as well for his portrayal of Najeeb. As mentioned earlier, everything has been shown in a detailed manner and hence the film is slow for the most part. The first half could have been handled better though. If you like watching art films, you can give it a try.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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