As we anticipate Najeeb’s remarkable journey on the silver screen in the upcoming film “Aadujeevitham” starring Tollan spirit’s unyielding strength.
In 1993, Najeeb, a worker from Aarattupuzha village in Haripad, Alappuzha, faced the same struggle as many young people without jobs. His wife was eight months pregnant with their son, and Najeeb hoped for a better life. He believed he’d get a job at a supermarket in Saudi Arabia. So, he left for Jeddah, starting a journey that would keep his family worried and waiting for him for many years.
Najeeb’s dreams turned into a nightmare when he arrived in Saudi Arabia and discovered he’d been tricked. Instead of the promised job at a supermarket, he found himself stranded in a remote Saudi village surrounded by sand and goats. His boss, called Arbab, treated him very badly. Najeeb had to take care of 700 goats but wasn’t paid for his work. He was all alone and watched closely through binoculars, feeling like he was trapped in a scary story of being used and kept prisoner in the harsh desert.
Things got even worse for Najeeb as his boss became more cruel. He wasn’t allowed to wash or clean himself, and he had to eat old bread and goat milk that smelled bad because of the dirty goats. Despite the bad taste, he had no choice but to eat it. Even when the boss’s brother visited, there was no escape from the tough treatment.
After two hard years in the desert, feeling more like a goat than a person, Najeeb saw a chance to escape when his boss left for his niece’s wedding. He ran for his life, traveling many miles without water. Along the way, he met another person from Kerala in a similar situation, but couldn’t bring them along.
Finally, Najeeb met a kind Arab who helped him reach Jeddah. Even though he spent 10 days in jail, it felt much better than his previous suffering. Eventually, the government sent him back to Kerala, ending his difficult time.
In Najeeb, we find not just a survivor, but a real-life hero whose unwavering spirit triumphs over the darkest of circumstances, reminding us of the resilience that lies within us all. Now, we’ll get to see Najeeb’s story portrayed in the upcoming movie Aadujeevitham starring Prithviraj Sukumaran.
