Eko is yet another validation that filmmakers do not have to be insecure: Bahul Ramesh | Exclusive

The Eko movie, a Malayalam mystery thriller guarded by a pack of dogs, is streaming on Netflix. In an exclusive chat, writer Bahul Ramesh talks about why one should never underestimate the audience.

Eko writer Baul Ramesh with actors Binu Pappu and Sandeep Pradeep

Though he aspired to be a writer-director right from his high school days, Bahul Ramesh started off his career as a cinematographer, seeking to find a footing in cinema before chasing his real love. It seems to have paid off as Bahul now rests happily (and highly exhausted) on the success of his latest film Eko, having powered the Sandeep Pradeep-starrer both as a writer and cinematographer. Eko, a moody mystery thriller guarded by a pack of dogs which also wraps up his Animal trilogy, is now streaming on Netflix. In an exclusive interview with OTTplay, Bahul Ramesh talks about why the film was titled Eko, collaborating with director Dinjith Ayyathan and why the film is a validation that filmmakers do not have to be insecure.

The film is titled Eko, but pronounced as Echo. Why?

We wanted the title to mean Echo itself. But when you spell it out as Echo, it would appear to be an English title. We wanted some uniqueness and Echo is written phonetically as Eko, which we felt is better calligraphy-wise. Eko also has different meanings in other languages other than Echo, which has become an added advantage.

How did you come up with this unique storyline of Eko?

Protection and restriction both look the same - this line came to my mind randomly. Don’t ask why (laughs)! I wrote it around 2021. I felt that phrase has the potential to convey a broader spectrum of ideas or even ironies. It will work in different contexts - relationships, political or even religious themes. So I thought of which type of drama to place this in. That was the starting point. I did not have the character or plot point. I follow intuition and figure out where it takes me. Only when I get to the end, I am like.. Oh! This was the climax. I find the process fascinating.

Kishkindha Kaandam and Eko are slow-burn thriller types but audience reaction has been great. Your response?

We did not expect such a reception, it is like 100 times more than what we expected. We made an honest attempt, so we hoped the audiences would be generous and encouraging. I am really happy with this unanimous reception and far, far better box office performance. So this has been an exhaustive work, and I am not in a position to absorb this all, healthwise. Slightly saddened by it. I see everything as an extension of writing, so I was involved in every aspect, including editing or technical matters. So the entire health went for a toss, I couldn’t take a break nor do I have the ability to take power naps!

Eko director Dinjith Ayyathan said the challenge was executing what Bahul had written. About collaborating with Dinjith on Eko, your third project together?

I got acquainted with Dinjith ettan when I was working as a cinematographer in Kakshi: Amminippilla in 2019. It is not merely a professional bond; we are more like brothers or friends. So the interactions are much easier, we can communicate more transparently. We don’t have to make an effort to be formal, which is energy-consuming,. We can save a lot of time during shooting. We completed shooting around 45 days for both films despite the many challenges. That’s because of the rapport and work speed. The climate was, of course, the big challenge as we had to wrap up in the restricted budget.

Also read: Eko director Dinjith Ayyathan on how Kishkindha Kaandam success gave him confidence to cast Sandeep Pradeep | Exclusive

Binu Pappu in an interview said that if the performance was not up to mark, the call to cut will come from behind the camera. About being a writer-DOP?

Both processes actually complement one another, and that’s very comfortable. While writing itself, there is a clear idea about what and all can be shot or executed. So I only write as per our capabilities and plus I am aware of the budget and logistics involved. There is more creative liberty if the production aspect is also taken care of, like avoiding too many night scenes. Also, at the time of shooting, I can judge in real-time if the performance/ staging is progressing as intended. That is very helpful in situations when you are pressed for time. We would not have the luxury to go for several re-takes. Ninety percent of the shots are handheld, and camera operations are handy, and even artistes are not given a strict template to follow. So, depending on the artistes’ performance, we can improvise on the spot. And the artistes can also perform freely. For instance, if I know that any significant dialogue is coming up, then I can also switch prominence to that character, portraying them more boldly in the foreground.

You said that you like to leave the viewers with questions. Are you trying to ensure a re-watch value for the film or just that the mystery remains intact?

While making, our only hope is that people will watch it at least once, forget re-watch! The only aim is that it should not be very obvious... on your face kind of a thing. But we have not left anything as open-ended. All answers are there in the film itself. I like to create that kind of engagement, and not let the viewer sit back and watch from outside, but they are also involved in the narrative, figuring out stuff. It is like ‘match the following’ we did in school - the question and answer are there before us, we just need to connect. Some people are effortlessly connecting the dots, I see on Reddit. We have tried our best to respect the intelligence of the audience. We do not have to be insecure at all. Eko is yet another validation that we should follow that approach only.

Also read: Eko: Bahul Ramesh on how he ‘sacrificed’ a story to build his Animal trilogy | Exclusive

Dinjith said he had expected Kishkindha Kaandam to win Best Script at Kerala State Awards. Your reaction?

I did not even expect this much. These past 2-3 years have brought me a lot of unexpected happiness. I had an ambition to write a film someday, then I was able to write it unexpectedly and shoot it in 1-2 years. When it was released, it found acceptance and became a commercial success. It is more than what I could have asked for - I am happy and content with that. There are independent artistes and writers, who express what they want to, without any mandatory obligation. There is purely an innocence that they enjoy. It is my biggest happiness that I could also approach it like that with all three projects. That’s enough!

Eko movie FAQs

Q. What is this Eko?

A. Eko is a Malayalam mystery thriller movie, starring actor Sandeep Pradeep as Peeyoos who takes care of an elderly woman, Mlaathi Chettathi, in a remote hilltop, guarded by dogs. Dinjith Ayyathan directed the movie, which was penned by writer-cinematographer Bahul Ramesh.

Q. What is Animal Trilogy in Malayalam?

A. Writer Bahul Ramesh built an 'Animal' trilogy, featuring the film Kishkindha Kaandam Eko, and Kerala Crime Files Season 2, with animals being crucial to the narrative.

Q. Is Eko a sequel?

A. The Malayalam movie Eko is the third and final instalment of Bahul Ramesh's Animal Trilogy, following the film Kishkindha Kaandam (2024) and the series Kerala Crime Files Season 2 (2025).

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