Director Dinjith Ayyathan is currently enjoying the success of his latest release, 'Eko'. The movie, released on November 21, is receiving applause for its strong performance and story. Recently, the 46 year old director shared about his experience working with foreign actors, which turned out to be one of the most surprising and rewarding aspects of the project.
Casting challenges and the tight deadlineWhile speaking with OTTPlay, which initially had concerns about working with international artistes for this film, especially because the production had a very short window to finalise the cast. "We had only a week to decide on them, so we were unable to properly train them or hold an audition," he said. However, it seems to be a blessing in disguise as the director described the experience as unexpectedly smooth and fulfilling, praising the actors for their commitment and adaptability.
Malaysian actress Sim Zhi Fei , who made her acting debut in 'Eko', had an impactful performance. The director shared his satisfaction with her portrayal, stating that she delivered far beyond expectations. Her co-actor Ng Hung Shen , who played her onscreen husband Yosiah, also earned the filmmaker’s admiration. "He handled the lengthy dialogues with such ease and didn't use a lot of takes,” Dinjith shared.

A unique casting choice, Mlaathi Chettathi roleThe director further opened up about another crucial casting choice, the actress who played Mlaathi Chettathi. Unlike the others, she was not a professional performer but a respected member of her community and a teacher by profession. Dinjith called the experience of working with her "exciting" and praised her passion for cinema. He credited 'Ullozhukku' director Christo Tomy for suggesting her name. "After a month of preparation and an audition, we ultimately chose her," he said.
'Eko' is currently enjoying a good run in theatres. The film has collected over Rs 13.1 crore in eight days as per Sacnilk.