Basil Joseph on Why 'Eko' Worked: ‘People Wanted to Crack the Puzzle Together’

For Basil Joseph, the joy of watching Malayalam Eko wasn’t just about liking its storytelling; it was about what its success represents. “I saw Eko recently; it’s a really nice film,” he says. What stayed with him was the confidence of its storytelling. “It’s made on a very small budget. [It has] No big stars or anything.”

Joseph was quick to single out its lead, Sandeep Pradeep. “He’s a good actor for sure. An upcoming talent to really look forward to,” he says. But more than individual performances, it was the audience response that moved him. “Such a small film getting that kind of reception— it collected five times its budget or something. That just makes you feel so happy,” he adds.

The film’s success, Joseph believes, signals a larger shift. “You feel confident about making good attempts,” he says. Especially films that don’t rely on familiar commercial beats. “It’s a slow burner. It’s not very commercial. It’s just a slow-burning mystery thriller.” And yet, audiences stayed invested. “People are involved. They want to crack the puzzle of what’s happening,” he says. 

What excites him most is how films like Eko bring back a sense of shared viewing. “People are talking to each other. That’s another kind of community viewing,” he says. He contrasted it with more emotional collective experiences. “With Homebound, people are crying together. That’s also community. Here, you’re asking the person next to you, ‘Why did that happen?’ You’re discussing the puzzle,” he adds.

Joseph likened the experience to watching shows like hit German project Dark (2017). “You start writing notes, like 'This guy’s father is this person, his son is there, and so on.' Or even a Christopher Nolan film. “If someone says, ‘I didn’t understand,’ there’s this reaction from people that goes somewhat like, ‘You didn’t understand?' Then you’re also prepared because you feel like, no, I should understand this film,” he says with a laugh.