The name Prithviraj means ‘one who rules the world’. Actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran dreams of the Indian film industry, particularly his home industry Mollywood, ruling the global entertainment landscape with quality content.
The 41-year-old, who has been in lead roles for 22 years, is considered a great visionary in Mollywood. He has been a successful director, playback singer, producer, distributor and action choreographer.
His latest film, The Goat Life, directed by the National Award-winning director Blessy, takes Malayalam cinema to a global audience. An international coproduction involving companies in India and the US, The Goat Life is an adaptation of the bestselling Malayalam novel Aadujeevitham by Benyamin. The novel is based on the experiences of Najeeb, a Malayali labourer who was forced into slavery as a goatherd on a secluded, Saudi Arabian farm.
Prithviraj spoke to THE WEEK about The Goat Life and its grand vision, and the struggles he and Blessy had to go through to complete the shoot. Excerpts:
Q\ The Goat Life is based on a novel about the experiences of Najeeb. Did you talk to him before undertaking the film? What insights did he share?
A\ The first time I spoke to Najeeb was after the last shot of the film. He was on location that day. So I did the final shot, the director said cut and wrap, and that is when I walked behind the camera and spoke to him for the first time. We recorded and shot the conversation, and I think it should be releasing very soon. My interpretation of Najeeb is largely dependent on the book and Blessy’s vision of the story.
Q\ As a filmmaker yourself, how would you assess Blessy’s efforts in bringing the book to the screen?
Denne historien er fra April 07, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 07, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Lessons in leadership
When I began my career at Hindustan Lever (as HUL was then called), I was deeply inspired by our chairman, Dr Ashok S. Ganguly.
Political colours
One of the greatest fashion statements of recent times was made in the Parliament's winter session by Rahul Gandhi and some opposition colleagues. India's most news-making politician (since his landmark Bharat Jodo Yatra) gave up his signature white polo T-shirt for a blue one.
Chat roam
Vox pop content is seeing an uptick in India, with creators making conversations on current and social issues fun and funny
Back home with BANNG
Michelin star-winning chef Garima Arora, who recently opened her first restaurant in India, on all things food and family
One supercalifragilisticexpialidocious New Year
Once Christmas is over, tension mounts in our home as the little woman and I start ticking off the days. We both remain on edge because we dread the coming of the New Year—a time when the whole world goes crazy and adopts resolutions. We, too, make New Year promises and our ‘list of past resolutions’ is very long and impressive. Unfortunately, we are complete failures at keeping them and our ‘list of resolutions not kept’ is equally long and equally impressive.
Six or out?
Cricket is a quasi-religion in India. And our pantheon of cricketers is worshipped with a fervour bordering on hysteria.
DOWN AND UNDER THE WEATHER
After their flop show in Australia, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will have to live on current form rather than past glory
The new in news
THE WEEK and DataLEADS partner to revolutionise news with fact-checks, data and Live Journalism
Hello Middle East
Reem Al-Hashimy, UAE minister of state for international cooperation, inaugurates a special Middle East section on THE WEEK website
BAIT CLICK
Dark patterns fool millions of Indians every day. The government is finally acting, but it just may not be enough
