Eko director Dinjith Ayyathan: 'Didn't approach any Malayali actor for Kuriachan as...'| Exclusive

Malayalam filmmaker Dinjith Ayyathan is currently in the limelight with growing popularity for his most recent film, Eko. The filmmaker discussed how he and the team came up with this cast, which is one of the best things about this compelling film, in an interview with OTTplay.

'Didn't approach any Malayalam actor for Kuriachan'

Dinjith emphasised that he didn't seek any Malayalam actors to play Kuriachan in Eko. "I had a vague notion of Kuriachan's look. For example, a villain who resembled South Indian actor Raghuvaran in appearance. From the start, I thought of someone whose body language was comparable. Saurabh was a perfect fit for the role," he remarked. The filmmaker continued by saying that he was lucky to have the ideal cast, including Vineeth and Ashokan. "I grew up watching their work alongside the masters of Malayalam film," he continued. 

Also Read: Eko star Sandeep Pradeep: 'Became submissive watching other actors' performances in this film...'| Exclusive

'Casting Mlaathi Chettathi, Soyi and Yosiah'

The maker of Kishkindha Kaandam stated that he had little trouble getting the desired results from the foreign artistes. "I was a little anxious about their performance, but they were really at ease. We had only a week to decide on them, so we were unable to properly train them or hold an audition," he said. Dinjith expressed his gratitude that they proved to be the ideal candidates for the part, particularly Sim Zhi Fei, a Malaysian who made her acting debut with Eko. "Ng Hung Shen, who portrayed her husband Yosiah in the film, handled the lengthy dialogues with such ease and didn't use a lot of takes," he said.

Dinjith disclosed that the actress who portrayed Mlaathi Chettathi was a highly regarded person of her community and a teacher rather than a professional actor. She did, however, consider filming this movie as an exciting experience because she was passionate about this craft. Christo Tomy, Ullozhukku's director, had first suggested her name. After a month of preparation and an audition, we ultimately chose her," he stated. The director noted that other actors were also shortlisted for this role along with Biana Momin, but they struggled with communication because they didn't speak Hindi or English fluently.

Also Read: Eko: Here are a few reasons why you shouldn't miss this Sandeep Pradeep film in theatres

FAQs

Q. When will Eko release?

A. Eko released in theatres on November 21, along with Prithviraj Sukumaran's Vilaayath Budha.

Q. Who are the actors in Eko?

A. Young Malayalam actor Sandeep Pradeep leads Eko, along with senior actors Vineeth, Narain, Binu Pappu, and Ashokan in other key roles.