Jeo Baby, Divya Prabha open up about their latest movie Ebb; director says The Great Indian Kitchen’s vision ‘came to me over time’

Although she has appeared in only five films since 2022, including Ebb, each has been distinct from the others, wherein Divya Prabha played unique and demanding characters with full commitment, earning praise from all quarters. A look at some of the roles she has done over the years also exemplifies her bravery as a performer, as not all actors would be willing to take on at least a few of them — the latest and best example being Maria (Divya’s character) in Ebb — out of concern for their public image. Yet, her professionalism and willingness to take risks have always shone through, which, along with her immense potential, has helped her become a promising talent in Malayalam cinema.

Must Read | Ebb movie review: Jeo Baby, Divya Prabha’s film deals a blow to male hypocrisy and performative wokeness, but doesn’t stop there

‘Filmmaker’s intention is very important for me,’ says Divya Prabha

When asked how she chooses her projects these days, and whether her decisions are based on a character being completely different from anything she has done so far or on the scope it offers her to perform, Divya Prabha says she considers many factors. Speaking to SCREEN after Ebb’s IFFK premiere on December 13, she states, “I cannot commit to a film by focusing or thinking about just one thing. First of all, the filmmaker’s intention towards the cinema is very important for me. How genuine and honest they are in making it matter to me. Then, definitely the team, including the technical crew, and whether it is a character I haven’t portrayed before, are also factors. As an actor, I want to take on more versatile roles. Similarly, regarding content, I feel that no other kind of restriction should control me.”

Referring to the intimacy scenes in both All We Imagine as Light and Ebb, Divya notes, “I only look at whether that sequence is convincing to me. The comfort that the respective teams offer while working matters. So, it’s a permutation and combination of many things. There isn’t just one reason behind choosing a particular role.”

‘Ebb is also about a man’s mental health,’ says Jeo Baby

Much like his nationally acclaimed directorial venture, The Great Indian Kitchen (2021), Ebb also brilliantly explores and lays bare male hypocrisy. When asked how he developed such a critical introspection of the male collective, which is rarely visible in the patriarchal society, Jeo Baby admits he doesn’t have a precise answer. Nonetheless, he maintains that his partner has had a significant impact on the evolution of his mindset. “My partner helps me a lot. The conversations between us, or the changes happening between us, have played a role. There is a big difference in how we behave with each other now compared to when we got married. There are many reasons for that,” he tells SCREEN during the Q&A session.

Jeo Baby and Divya Prabha in Ebb.

“Take The Great Indian Kitchen, for instance. I didn’t make the movie because I already had that vision; that vision came to me over time. If all the men sitting here were told to work in the kitchen at home for over a month without going out, we would change. We would think about feminism. That insight wasn’t gained from reading books. Because I faced a situation where I had to change, I felt like exploring that area further,” the director states.

Opening up about Ebb, which was shot in just six days, Jeo Baby shares, “This film is also about a man’s mental health. ‘Why are men like this?’ is what I am trying to convey. Such a way of thinking happens organically. It does not come through studies or reading with the intention of making a film.”