After more than 40 years as an actor, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal took on the director’s role for Barrows. The children’s film received mixed reviews and a lukewarm response at the box office. In an exclusive conversation with India Today Digital, Mohanlal shrugged off the underwhelming performance, saying the film was never made for numbers.

Talking about the film’s limited box office collection, the actor said, “We only released 3D prints, and it was the best decision. People ask, ‘Why didn’t you have a 2D (version) as well?’ But why should we? People should enjoy this experience first, and if it is necessary, we also have 2D prints available, so, it is not for the numbers or the money that I want to create something and the audience. This is a gift to them, for the respect and love they have had for the last 47 years, I have given them a kid-friendly movie that the kids can watch together. You will also be tickled.”

Talking more about Barrows, Mohanlal shared that the decision to direct the film was unexpected. However, his goal was always to make a film that stood out for its quality. “It’s a new way of telling the story. The format is different, the camera, everything is different. The sound landscape, the movement of our cameras, everything. It’s a visual experience. In the film, we made it kid-friendly and for families.” It was conceived with a universal appeal,” he said.

The actor-turned-director shared that Kerala produced the first 3D film in India and now, after 40 years, he has strived for better quality work with Barrows to carry forward the legacy. “We shot the film with stereo lenses, which is not an easy thing. Working on 3D films comes with its own challenges. Every aspect of filmmaking is different. As I said, camera work, lighting, editing, The sound design, the make-up, the storytelling, the camera movements, everything. This is my humble offering to the audience and the industry.

Mohanlal said that he worked on the barrows for more than 1650 days and for almost 6 years. The schedule was further delayed due to the Covid pandemic, as many international artistes could not travel. The superstar mentioned how the team began to grow as the project progressed, leading to many surprising collaborations. He concluded, “It is the union of great actors and great technicians. We tried to do something different (which) no one has done yet. It is not a challenge but a new experience for the audience.”

The Hindi-dubbed version of Barrows was released in theaters on 25 December.