https://doi.org/10.67147/literariness.v1i4.047
The Auditory Trap of Kaattukunnu: Exploring Acoustic Ecology and Canine Sovereignty in Ekō
FATHIMA NIDHA K
Assistant Professor
Nasra College of Arts and Science, Tirurkad, Malappuram, Kerala
Abstract: Dinjith Ayyathan’s Ekō is a 2025 Malayalam thriller set in the misty hills of Kaattukunnu, a forest backdrop which acts as a driving force of the plot. While the film is analyzed for its ecocritical and ecofeminist perspectives, this paper focuses on the acoustic ecology where the unique sounds and geography become the central forces of the movie. The deceptive echoes, wind, and barks confuse and suffocate the human characters, completely stripping away the human logic and authority. Through this study of sound, the paper explores the concept of canine sovereignty. It argues that the movie uses dogs as the natural protectors of the forest. Their barks act as an invisible army that threatens to make the guns, money and logic of humans totally useless. By shifting the focus from visual clues to soundscapes, this study argues that the physical environment of the isolated Kaattukunnu serves as a sensory trap that enforces its own natural justice. The paper argues that true sovereignty and justice in wilderness do not belong to humans, but to its wild topography that rules its territory through sound.
Keywords: Acoustic Ecology, Canine Sovereignty, Ekō, Soundscape, Wild Topography
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