'Eko': Dhanush praises Sandeep Pradeep's film; producer opens up on its success: 'We never chased box office numbers' - Exclusive

Recently, Tamil actor Dhanush spoke about the Malayalam film 'Eko' and shared his honest feelings. His words quickly caught everyone’s attention. His post read, “EKO the Malayalam film is a masterpiece. Actor Biana Momin deserves all the highest honours. World class performance.”



After this, many people started talking more about the film. It also brought up a bigger question. How do Malayalam filmmakers keep making content-driven films without big stars and still win hearts? Eko became a clear answer to that question.

'Eko' producer MRK Jhayaram opens up on 'Eko's success

In an exclusive chat with ETimes, 'Eko' producer MRK Jhayaram spoke openly about his journey. As a first-time producer, he said he never ran behind box office numbers. He said, “As a first time producer, I never chased numbers, so seeing Eko early success truly overwhelming. Dinjith’s powerful direction, Bahul’s thought provoking writing, his Brilliance and stunning cinematography, Mujeeb’s soulful music, Sooraj’s sharp editing, and Vishnu Govind’s world class sound design shaped this film into what it is today.”

He also praised the actors and their effort. He added, “And every single actor delivered their roles with such honesty and intensity that they became the true strength of the film. This success is an emotional validation of our team’s passion and hard work, and I am deeply grateful to the audience for embracing Eko.”

Actors who believed in the story

Actor Saurabh Sachdev, who played Kuriachan, also shared his thoughts. He spoke with excitement and respect for the team. He said, “It is a very good movie , and I am so impressed by the director, the writer — who is also the cinematographer. The music takes the story forward so beautifully, and the way he writes the screenplay is truly remarkable.”

He also added, “Till now, he is my best filmmaker, and I am proud that I am a part of this. The acting of everyone is not just very good — the story itself is beautiful.”

Talking about his character, he said, “They have to interpret it themselves because it is a very mystic character in a way.” He also said, “I should not talk too much, because if I reveal anything, it may take away something the audience should discover on their own. ‘Why is this? Who is this?’ — those questions should come to their mind.”

How was 'Eko' born and why do animals matter?

Writer Bahul Ramesh spoke to us about how the idea came to him. He said, “The idea for Eko struck me unexpectedly.” He spoke about a line in the film and said, “Sometimes protection and restriction, they both look the same.” He explained how that line stayed with him and made him think deeper. He said, “I imagined guarding dogs and wondered — what if this ‘protection’ was actually something more sinister?”

Director Dinjith Ayyathan spoke about animals in the film and said, “There isn’t a specific formula behind this — I choose animals only when the story truly demands it.”

'Eko' also stars Sandeep Pradeep, Vineeth, Narayan, Binu Pappu, and Ashokan. The story follows a mysterious dog breeder who goes missing, leading to twists and deep questions. 'Eko' is currently streaming on OTT.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”