Despite the phenomenal growth of the Tamil film industry in quality and quantity, the number of films catering exclusively to the needs and demands of children remain very far and few. If it was 'Pasanga' last year, no other film could be termed to have been made specifically with children in mind so far in the year.
One can't but reminisce about the films made in the eighties which had many films for children. Rajni's 'Anbulla Rajnikanth', 'Raja Chinna Roja', Maniratnam's 'Anjali' and most notably the first-ever 3-D venture in Tamil titled 'My Dear Kuthichathan', which ran to packed houses in many halls in the State for more than 100 days. The film was a landmark or milestone in the history of Tamil films.
Produced by Appachan's Navodaya Studios, the film was directed by his son Jijo, who was hardly 21 years of age at that time. Released in the mid-eighties, the budget of 'My Dear…' was said to be a whopping Rs.22 crores, an unthinkable amount to produce a film at that time. The film was also dubbed in many other languages where it had enjoyed successful run.
The film was re-released in 1997 with DTS sound-effects and was again enjoyed by the public, with everyone from children to adults taking a liking to the 3-dimensional pictures which required the viewers to put on a special paper-plastic spectacle which was distributed to them along with the tickets for the show.
Reports say that an effort is being made to 'revive' the film with the new story going like this: the lead actors, who where all less than 10 years of age at that time, grow up and become matured individuals and embark again on a journey (this time with their children in tow) to meet the little devil ('Kuthichathan') again. Jijo plans to rope in the same artistes who starred in the original version but who have become grown-up individuals.