The news that plans were afoot for a 3D film in Malayalam came as a big surprise to the world of Indian cinema. This was a technology that people had only heard of and the surprise was that a small state was taking the lead in introducing it in the country.
This was the idea of director Jijo Punnoose. He and his committed crew realised that it was a Herculean task, considering the facilities available in the country then. There were many who called this a crazy idea, but Jijo and his team decided to go ahead with their dream project.
The inspiration for this project was the Hollywood film Jaws , which was made in 3D format too. The Malayalam film My Dear Kuttichathan was the result of Jijo’s constant hunt for something different. In fact, his father, Appachan made the first cinemascope film in Malayalam, Thacholi Ambu and produced the first 70mm film, Padayottam . The creative mind behind both these films was Jijo. He now began work on a 3D film.
“Appachan was hesitant at first when Jijo told him of the idea. But he was later convinced that his son would be able to pull it off and agreed to spend money on the project,” says SL Puram Anand, who worked as production executive in My Dear Kuttichathan .
The biggest challenge for Jijo was that 3D cinema being new in the country everything had to be imported from the US. Jijo travelled to the US to learn this technology and brought 100 feet of the 3D version of Jaws along with special spectacles to be worn to watch the film. Also needed was a sort of silver solution that had to be sprayed on the screen. Jijo ‘converted’ the screening hall at Udaya Studio in Alappuzha and screened the 3D films before a select audience. Everyone who watched it was impressed and decided to go ahead with the Malayalam project.
Jijo travelled to the US once again where he met Chris Condon, an expert in 3D technology. Jijo bought the special camera lens and after much discussion Chris agreed to assist Jijo in his film. Chris came to India along with Jijo and all the equipment needed for the 3D film. Also accompanying Chris was one of his assistants. The next task was to train cinematographers Ashok Kumar and KP Nambiathiri. The training over Chris returned to the US leaving his assistant for further help.
The required equipment needed for the film had to be imported from the US and Jijo managed to do this with the help of his friend, Thomas J Easho. Thomas, who hailed from Kumbanad, had a contract with the US air force to shoot documentaries for them. He thus had a close link and knowledge of film equipment.
Jijo’s decision to cast new stars in his film surprised many but he stuck to this. “He discussed this with me too. I suggested Dilip Tahil, which was accepted by Jijo,” Anand recalls.
The main location was set in and around Navodaya Studio in Kochi and places in the Kakkanad area. The entire technical work was done in Madras including recording of songs and music. “I remember how happy Ilaiyaraaja was to be part of the first 3D film in the country,” says Anand.
Then came the next hurdle. The theatres where the film was to be released had to be equipped to beam a 3D film. More than a dozen theatres were selected, special 3D lenses were fixed to the projectors by Navodaya. They now needed viewers to wear special glasses to watch the movie. Polaroid gelatin was fixed on to the lenses and frames. Both lenses and polaroid gelatin were imported from America. Frames of glasses were made in a factory at Adyar.
Released in 1984, My Dear Kuttichathan was very well received. It turned out to be huge financial success grossing more than ₹2.5 crore at the box-office. This trendsetter was dubbed into Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.
Navodaya made another stereoscopic 3D film Magic Magic in 2003, directed by Jose Punnoose, Jijo’s brother. It was produced in Tamil and later dubbed into Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi.
