Oman actor Talib Al-Balushi denies Saudi ban rumours amid 'The Goat Life' controversy

Omani actor Talib Al-Balushi, who stars in the recently released Indian film The Goat Life, has denied social media rumours suggesting he has been banned from entering Saudi Arabia. The film, directed by Blessy, has sparked controversy for its portrayal of a Saudi sponsor (kafeel) in a negative light, focusing on themes of labour exploitation.

The Goat Life is based on the Malayalam novel Aadujeevitham by Benyamin, which tells the true story of Najeeb Muhammad, an Indian migrant forced into slavery as a goatherd in the Saudi Arabian desert.

In the film, which was shot in the deserts of Jordan and Algeria, as well as in Kerala, India, Al-Balushi plays the kafeel, depicted as a cruel figure who treats his goats and camels better than Najeeb, depriving him of basic necessities like food and water.

فيلم حياة الماعز هو اقتباس سينمائي لرواية المالايالامية الأكثر مبيعًا لبنيامين والتي صدرت قبل عشرين عامًا وترجمت إلى العديد من اللغات على مر السنين. حاول الفيلم بلا هوادة إبراز نبل النفس البشرية حتى في قلب الإنسان القاسي. https://t.co/bGI0rSI65f

— د.طالب محمد البلوشي (@talibalbalushe) August 25, 2024

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Social media platform Movie Street suggested that Saudi authorities had banned the Omani actor due to his role in the film. However, Al-Balushi, currently in India to celebrate the success of the film at the Kerala State Film Awards, refuted these claims, stating, “There is no letter from either the Saudi or Omani governments barring me from entering Saudi Arabia. People should remember, this is just a film, not real life.”

Despite the controversy, Al-Balushi’s performance has been widely praised. “I have received a lot of praise for my performance, and it’s essential for viewers to differentiate between cinema and reality,” he said.

Director Blessy defended the film, stating: “The movie relentlessly tried to highlight the nobleness of human soul even in the heart of a harsh person.”

“I tried to give this message consistently throughout the movie and never intended to hurt the sentiments of any individual, race, or country,” he added.

Lebanese outlet Raseef22 notes that “Although the film has been available on Netflix for a month, the Saudi backlash only began a few days ago,” this was due to the recent addition of Arabic subtitles, which brought the movie to the attention of Gulf audiences.

The Goat Life is currently trending as the top film on Netflix in Oman, where it has remained in the top ten for the past three weeks. The Arabic hashtag Talib Al-Balushi has also been trending on X in the sultanate.

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