On August 24, 1984, Indian cinema achieved a historic milestone with the release of "My Dear Kuttichathan," the first 3D film produced in India. This Malayalam-language children's fantasy film, directed by Jijo Punnoose and produced by his father Navodaya Appachan under Navodaya Studio, captivated audiences with its innovative use of 3D technology, marking a turning point in the Indian film industry.
The film tells the story of a mystical goblin named Kuttichathan who is under the spell of an evil sorcerer. Three children release Kuttichathan from the spell, and the goblin befriends them, leading to a series of adventures. Raghunath Paleri wrote the screenplay, and Ilaiyaraaja composed the film's soundtrack. Ashok Kumar handled the cinematography, and T. R. Shekhar was responsible for the editing. The film featured actors such as Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, Dalip Tahil, and Jagathi Sreekumar, and it marked the debut of actors Jagadish and Zainuddin.
"My Dear Kuttichathan" was a significant success, grossing over ₹2.5 crore at the box office. The film's success was not limited to its original Malayalam version. In 1997, a re-edited version with additional scenes featuring Kalabhavan Mani was released, becoming the first DTS movie in Malayalam. In 1998, the film was dubbed in Hindi as "Chhota Chetan," and it achieved considerable success, grossing ₹10.30 crore. The Hindi version included additional scenes with Urmila Matondkar. In 2010, further scenes were added in Tamil with Prakash Raj and Santhanam, and the film was released as "Chutti Chathan". A new re-mastered version with additional footage was released on August 25, 2011.
The film's innovative use of 3D technology set it apart and created a unique cinematic experience for Indian audiences. The success of "My Dear Kuttichathan" paved the way for future 3D films in India and demonstrated the potential of the technology to enhance storytelling and audience engagement. The film remains a beloved classic in Indian cinema, remembered for its pioneering spirit and its contribution to the evolution of filmmaking in the country.
"My Dear Kuttichathan" was made with a budget of ₹45 lakh and collected ₹10.5 crore at the box office. The film runs for 97 minutes.
