The story of Aadujeevitham is based on a novel of the same name by a Bahrain-based Indian author, Benyamin. It depicts the real-life incident of an Indian migrant worker, Najeeb Muhammad (played by Prithviraj Sukumaran) who goes to Saudi Arabia to earn money. However, in a twist of fate, he finds himself living a slave-like existence, herding goats in the middle of the desert.