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How My Dear Kuttichathan Pioneered India’s First 3D Film
My Dear Kuttichathan is a Malayalam children’s fantasy movie from 1984.
It is about a magical goblin who becomes friends with three children.
The movie was India’s first film made in 3D.
Director Jijo Punnoose learned about 3D technology through trips to the United States.
The film was shot at Navodaya Studios in Kochi.
The team built a rotating room so the children could appear to walk on walls.
Special projector lenses and glasses were installed in selected theatres.
The film was a major success and was later dubbed into Hindi as Chotta Chetan.
Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran selected it as the Malayalam movie he would want every Indian to watch.
Prithviraj Sukumaran chose My Dear Kuttichathan as the Malayalam film every Indian should watch.
Directed by Jijo Punnoose, the 1984 children’s fantasy was India’s first movie filmed in 3D.
Navodaya Studios reportedly produced the film for Rs 40 lakh after about 90 days of shooting.
A rotating set created the illusion of characters walking on a wall during the song “Aalippazham Perukkaan.”
The film reportedly grossed Rs 2.5 crore, received about 85,000 worldwide screenings, and won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film.
- Who
- Director Jijo Punnoose, writer Raghunath Paleri, producer Navodaya Studios, and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who later praised the film.
- What
- My Dear Kuttichathan, a 1984 children’s fantasy film and India’s first movie filmed in 3D.
- Where
- It was filmed at Navodaya Studios in Kochi, with technical work conducted in Madras, now Chennai.
- When
- The film was released in 1984; Prithviraj discussed it at the 16th edition of Expresso held recently.
- Why
- It was made as a pioneering 3D children’s fantasy film and became notable for its technological innovations and commercial success.
Key facts
- Director
- Jijo Punnoose
- Production studio
- Navodaya Studios
- Reported budget
- Rs 40 lakh
- Reported box office
- About Rs 2.5 crore
- 3D screenings
- About 85,000 worldwide screenings
- 3D glasses
- About 43 million used during the theatrical run
- Award
- National Film Award for Best Children’s Film
Quotes
Prithviraj Sukumaran
Malayalam actor-director discussing which Indian film he would recommend to everyone
“That’s tough, because we have made such great cinema over the decades. Not just because it’s a great film, but I’m a big ‘cinema nostalgia’ guy, so I would say, My Dear Kuttichathan”
indianexpress.com
“Executing a 3D film takes a lot of time. For instance, if you are working with 100 kilowatts of light for an ordinary film, a 3D film needs at least 350 kilowatts.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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