AR Rahman’s The Goat Life (Aadujeevitham) Score Wins Hollywood Music In Media Awards
AR Rahman’s musical genius has once again received international acclaim as the original score for The Goat Life (Aadujeevitham) clinched the award for Best Score – Independent Film (Foreign Language) at the 15th annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA). Other nominations in the category included Girl You Know It’s True – Segun Akinola; Ka Whawhai Tonu- Struggle Without End – Arli Liberman, Tiki Taane; Mongrels – Hao-Ting Shih, Tae-Young Yu; The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Karzan Mahmood and The Shadow of the Sun – Sandro Morales-Santoro.
The event, held on 20th November at The Avalon in Hollywood, honoured global contributions to music in film, TV, and video games, with Rahman’s work standing out among nominees from around the world.
The original Malayalam film, directed by Blessy and starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, is a cinematic adaptation of Benyamin’s best-selling novel, Aadujeevitham. Rahman’s atmospheric score in the movie captures the essence of protagonist Najeeb’s harrowing survival story in the Arabian desert, adding a transcendent layer to the gripping narrative. His collaboration with Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty further enriched the film’s auditory brilliance, with tracks like the soul-stirring “Periyone” resonating deeply with audiences.
The Hollywood Music in Media Awards also saw notable wins for Hans Zimmer, who took home three awards, including for Dune: Part Two and Planet Earth III, and legendary lyricist Bernie Taupin, who received the Outstanding Career Achievement Award.
With Aadujeevitham, director Blessy’s decade-long endeavour to bring his magnum opus to the screen has been lauded for its authenticity and emotional depth, which as enriched with the soulful Rahman score. The film follows Najeeb, a migrant worker from Kerala, whose dreams of a better life turn into a nightmare of enslavement. Prithviraj’s performance as Najeeb has been described as his career’s finest, portraying the character’s resilience against unimaginable odds. Supporting roles by Dr Talib Al Balushi as Najeeb’s ruthless sponsor and Jimmy Jean-Louis as an unexpected ally further elevate the film.
The visuals, captured by cinematographer Sunil KS, transport viewers into the stark beauty and unforgiving isolation of the desert. With wide, aerial, and close-up shots, Sunil’s work complements Rahman’s haunting score, creating an immersive experience that mirrors the protagonist’s physical and emotional journey.
Rahman’s achievement with Aadujeevitham marks another milestone in his illustrious career. From his debut in Mani Ratnam’s Roja (1992) to winning an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Rahman’s journey in Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Hollywood industries has been one of consistent innovation. His ability to blend spirituality and melody has created iconic tracks like Rockstar’s “Kun Faya Kun” and Jodhaa Akbar’s “Khwaja Mere Khwaja”.
