Name: Eko
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Released: 2025-11-21
Rating: 6.0
Cast: Sandeep Pradeep, Vineeth, Binu Pappu, Ashokan

A young man living in a remote village begins to notice patterns and events that don’t align with reality. As strange occurrences intensify, he is pulled into a mystery that connects his present to forces hidden beneath the surface of his community. The search for answers leads him into a world where memory, identity and truth start to blur, pushing him to confront what the village has long chosen to ignore.

Times of India

India Today

Dinjith Ayyathan’s Kishkindha Kaandam proved to be a surprise hit, with a very novel story and unique characterisations. But with writer Bahul Ramesh, he’s created Eko using a similar formula and somehow it almost feels funny, as a viewer, to try and unravel the unfolding mystery according to the duo’s earlier storyline.
The film centres around a missing Kuriachan (Saurabh Sachdeva), a prime dog breeder, and the various manner of people - from a former longtime friend to professional associates to the plainclothes police investigators - who come in search of him. They want to finish him off or bring him before the law, for his villainous deeds. And apparently, there were also many cases that Kuriachan had settled with several gangs earlier. But while we hear that he’s quite a villain, it’s never quite clear what his crimes are.
The film is filled with many such gaps in storytelling. Set in a vast, difficult to access, hilly estate that Kuriachan owns, the story centres around his aged Malaysian wife, Mlatthi chedathi and a young helper, Peyoos (Sandeep Pradeep). Any visitor to the remote estate comes across the dogs that Kuriachan has bred; it’s a challenge for the viewer to not see Kishkindha Kaandam playing simultaneously in the mind.
Will those seeking Kurian be able to find him? Is he still alive? What will be the fate of Mlatthi, who has uprooted herself to this lonesome estate and is estranged from her children?
Saurabh is competent in his role, but feels a very odd choice for central Kerala planter/dog breeder. His face and body language just does not say Malayali. Sandeep is excellent as Peyoos, bring various shades to the character. And Biana Momin is good as the wife who had taken several a beating from life.
Bahul Ramesh’s cinematography is stunning, not just while capturing the vast, verdant landscape, but also in conveying the fearsomeness of the dogs. But for all the stark beauty and the mysterious characters, the story falters in the many questions it leaves and the formulaic climax, which feels particularly so after watching Vilayath Buddha, the other release of this week.

Who led the dogs out? Director Dinjith Ayyathan’s latest thriller ‘Eko’, which marks the final chapter of his Animal Trilogy after ‘Kishkindha Kaandam’ and ‘Kerala Crime Files: Season 2’, builds on the tale of a missing dog breeder, his wife, his life, and his enemies, all while creating a mystique around a particular dog breed known for its high IQ and group coordination. To find out why I opened the paragraph the way I did, you will have to watch the film. But is it worth the watch? Let’s find out!
Eko’ takes you into the beautiful but barely inhabited mountain ranges of Kaattukunnu, standing tall along the Kerala–Karnataka border. And within these ranges lies the mystery of Kuriachan. Atop one of the mountains, far from other fellow humans, lives an elderly woman known as Mlaathi Chedathi (Biana Momin), the third wife of Kuriachan, whom he married and brought to Kerala from Malaysia. Living with her is Peeyos (Sandeep Pradeep), a young caretaker hired by her sons who live far away. Their lives seem ordinary, though secluded: the breezy mountain, each other, oh, and ‘the dogs’.

What Kaattukunnu lacks in human presence, it makes up for in dogs. Calling these dogs territorial would be an understatement, as they constantly monitor every crack and crevice along the mountains. Besides Mlaathi, Peeyos, and the dogs, the only other presence in the mountains are the men who come looking for Mlaathi’s husband, Kuriachan (Saurabh Sachdeva), who mysteriously goes missing, leaving behind a trail of cases, investigating officers, and angry enemies on his tail.
Babul Ramesh pens yet another thought-provoking thriller, marking a satisfying end to his trilogy. The obvious similarities with ‘Kishkindha Kaandam’ aside, ‘Eko’, when seen as a standalone, has a cinematic flair that is very hypnotising. Dinjith Ayyathan’s direction complements the story, as his vision brings this artistic thriller onto the canvas — not flawless, but fluent.

So what are the flaws? The film leaves several plot points open-ended, such as Kuriachan’s atrocities and Peeyos’s origins. The first half is slow — yes, there is setup and groundwork, but much of it feels stretched and unnecessary. A few shots seem included simply because they are visually stunning rather than meaningful to the narrative. A crisper film, with a few more answers shown rather than told, might have resulted in a far more thrilling experience.

When it comes to performances, Sandeep Pradeep does a fully convincing job, creating questions and moments of real thrill through his presence. Biana Momin delivers the most engaging performance of the film — you genuinely feel for her character. Saurabh Sachdeva is an unexpected casting choice and turns in a strong performance, though he does feel slightly out of place at times. But perhaps that works in the film’s favour, adding to the mystique of Kuriachan’s antics in society and making everything said about the character convincing.
The film’s strongest asset is its technical brilliance. Babul Ramesh’s cinematography is simply outstanding — capturing everything from the serene mountain landscapes to the gritty sequences with the canines, along with aesthetic frames that hold every emotion perfectly. Adding to this is the sound design. Mujeeb Majeed’s top-notch music has a hypnotic effect on viewers, and Vishnu Govind’s audiography deserves equal credit for elevating the film’s atmosphere.

In the end, ‘Eko’ stands as a compelling thriller that rewards patience. Its slow-burn approach, striking visuals, and atmospheric sound design create an experience that lingers long after the final reveal. Despite a few narrative gaps and a stretched first half, the film’s strong performances and technical finesse make it a worthy watch — especially for those who appreciate cinema that takes its time and leaves room for interpretation.

Eko(2025)