Fresh off the successful release of his film ‘Aadujeevitham,’ Prithviraj Sukumaran, an actor who is recognized for his dedication and versatility, wastes no time basking in the accolades. Without missing a beat, he gears up for his upcoming project, L2: Empuraan. Sukumaran conveys his sense of achievement about ‘Aadujeevitham,’ considering it a milestone in his career, one that he will treasure for life. However, he remains grounded, knowing that the show must go on. “The very next day of the film’s release, I was back at work to wrap up another film; this weekend, I’ll begin work on the next schedule of my next directorial,” Prithviraj states, signaling his relentless nature.
In the limelight for his astounding survival drama, he graciously engages in a discussion about the journey of ‘Aadujeevitham,’ a project that seemed fated to remain a mere vision. The novel, which inspired the adaptation, caught the interest of director Blessy back in 2008. When Prithviraj initially pledged his commitment to the production, his personal life was markedly different—free from the responsibilities of fatherhood and the roles of a producer and director. Sixteen years were woven into the fabric of this film’s history, a story in itself worthy of cinematic representation.
Recounting the arduous development journey, Prithviraj credits the unwavering conviction and focus of Blessy as the anchor through a decade of uncertainty. It was Blessy who drew them back to the lingering script, despite Prithviraj’s offers to explore other projects and return to it later.
Embracing the challenging role of Najeeb, the character in ‘Aadujeevitham’, required Prithviraj to distill the portrayal into three distinct stages—denoting the protagonist’s first three weeks, three months, and three years in the unforgiving desert. Each phase necessitated a unique emotional and physical transformation, demanding precise body language and a gamut of expressions to convey a gradual erosion of hope and human resilience.
Prithviraj made sacrifices, both physically and mentally, to lend authenticity to Najeeb’s perseverance. He underwent extreme fasting and dehydration, pushing his body to the limits to portray the stark physical toll taken on Najeeb across three grueling years of solitude and survival. This commitment is a testament to Prithviraj’s devotion to his craft, though he acknowledges the perils of such drastic measures and does not advocate for others to follow suit. The actor’s intense preparation, however, was nearly upended by the pandemic which accelerated the filming of a significant, transformation-rendering scene.
The film, a piece he holds in high regard, is not immune from criticism. Prithviraj respects different viewpoints and philosophies regarding ‘Aadujeevitham’s narrative pace. He discerns that while the film may not resonate with all, the sense of endless struggle that envelops the protagonist is vital to the thematic intent he shares with Blessy, the moments where the audience’s empathy and patience are deliberately tested.
On being questioned about his post-release plans, the actor reveals that his forthcoming ventures are not part of any grand scheme but rather the result of his adaptive aspirations as an artist. The language or genre of the script doesn’t dictate his choices, as he remains open to compelling narratives from any industry and promises to lend his talents even outside his linguistic comfort zone.
Prithraj is acutely aware of his lineage – the son of the esteemed Malayalam actor Sukumaran – and the initial opportunities it provided. Nonetheless, he points out the impartiality of the film industry and the audience’s power to bestow or withhold success, irrespective of one’s background.
As for his current undertakings, Prithviraj is steadily progressing through the stages of ‘Empuraan’ and is hopeful for its completion within the year. With the possibility of engaging with Tamil cinema once again, he expresses a special affinity for the impactful movies Kollywood has offered him in the past.
As an actor continually seeking depth and authenticity, Prithviraj Sukumaran stands as a paragon of dedication within Indian Cinema, undeterred by the inherent challenges and ever-responsive to the alluring call of compelling scripts and the promise of unique character portrayals.
