How India’s first 3D film ‘My Dear Kuttichathan’ made magic for Rs 40 lakh

My Dear Kuttichathan, India's first 3D film, enchanted audiences at a budget of just Rs 40 lakh. Directed by Jijo Punnoose, the fantasy film tells the story of a mischievous yet kind-hearted supernatural creature who befriends three children after they save him from an evil sorcerer's curse. Written by Raghunath Paleri and produced by Navodaya Studios, the film was a technical marvel for its time, as 3D filmmaking was relatively unknown in India.

Jijo Punnoose spent time in the United States to study 3D technology before beginning production. The film was shot at Navodaya Studios in Kochi using an ARRI Model IIC camera and a 35mm Mitchell camera as a backup. Shooting took around 90 days, longer than typical Malayalam productions, and the team faced the challenge of preparing cinemas for 3D screenings, including installing special lenses on projectors and providing 3D glasses made from imported polaroid material.

One of the film's iconic scenes, featuring Kuttichathan and the children walking on a wall during the song "Aalippazham Perukkaan," required the construction of a rotating set, which took 14 days to film. Initially estimated to cost approximately Rs 40 lakh, the film's original release date was August 24, 1984. It has since received multiple re-releases and its Hindi-dubbed version, Chhota Chetan, expanded its reach to a wider audience.

The film also won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film, solidifying its significance in Indian cinema history.