Jordanian actor Akef Najem regrets being part of Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Aadujeevitham; disapproves ‘negative portrayal’ of Saudi Arabia

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As someone who has followed the Malayalam film industry for years, I must say that Aadujeevitham was one of the most impactful films I’ve seen lately. The performances were outstanding, and Prithviraj Sukumaran truly transformed into his character. However, the recent apology by Jordanian actor Akef Najem has left me a bit puzzled.

1. The movie “Aadujeevitham,” starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and released earlier this year, was an immediate success at the box office. Directed by Blessy, the film featured a unique portrayal of Sukumaran, as he underwent significant physical transformations to take on this role. Recently, Aadujeevitham has been back in the news after Jordanian actor Akef Najem, who played a crucial part in the film, apologized to the people of Saudi Arabia for his participation in “Aadujeevitham.”

After receiving significant criticism for his depiction of a wealthy Arab character, Akef Najem later expressed remorse. He admitted that he hadn’t thoroughly read the script before agreeing to take on the role and confessed his ignorance about how the movie might impact Saudi Arabia’s public perception.

In a social media post, the Jordanian actor expressed his initial assumption that the movie “Aadujeevitham” would support the values of Saudi society. However, upon watching the completed film, he discovered that its storyline went against his previously held beliefs.

Furthermore, Akef confessed that it wasn’t until Prithviraj Sukumaran’s movie was out that he fully grasped its meaning, leading him to express remorse over not carefully examining the script prior to the release. He openly showed his deep regret for this oversight.

“Aadujeevitham centers on a youthful laborer hailing from Kerala, who is ensnared into slavery within the Middle East. With limited connections to the outside world, the boy endures grueling life as a desert shepherd.”

It’s noteworthy to point out that the movie Aadujeevitham is adapted from a book of the same title by Benyamin, published in 2008. This book narrates actual events that occurred during the 1990s. Directed by Blessy, this action-packed tale garnered acclaim for its compelling narrative, skillful direction, and outstanding performances from its cast members.

More recently, Prithviraj Sukumaran was awarded the best acting accolade for his performance in Aadujeevitham at the Kerala State Awards. Alongside this, Director Blessy also received the Best Director award for the same film. Together, these two honors contributed to a total of 9 awards won by Aadujeevitham at the Kerala Awards.

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2024-08-28 11:09