Renowned art director and production designer K Shekhar passed away on Saturday morning at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 72. His death marks the loss of one of Malayalam cinema’s earliest visual innovators, whose work left a lasting imprint on Indian filmmaking.

Shekhar is most widely recognised for his contribution to My Dear Kuttichathan, India’s first 3D feature. The film’s celebrated rotating room sequence from the song 'Aalipazham Perukkan' remains a landmark moment in Indian cinema. The illusion of child characters walking across walls and ceilings was achieved by constructing a fully functional rotating room, with the camera fixed to move along with the set. At a time when digital effects were unheard of, the sequence stood out for its sheer mechanical ingenuity.

Before establishing himself as an art director, Shekhar studied journalism at the University of Kerala, completing his postgraduate degree in 1979. He entered the film industry as a costume and publicity designer, beginning with Padayottam, Malayalam cinema’s first 70mm production, directed by Jijo Punnoose.

His later career included art direction for several well-known films such as Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu, Chanakyan and Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare. Beyond feature films, he also worked in television, contributing to the Hindi mythological series Bible Ki Kahaniyan, which aired on Doordarshan.

Shekhar’s design work was not limited to screen projects alone. He was part of the creative team involved in the development of Kishkinta Amusement Park, showcasing his versatility as a designer across various formats. He is survived by his wife Jayanti Shekhar, a commerce teacher. His body was kept at his home near Statue Junction for public viewing on Saturday and was later cremated at Santhi Kavadam in Thycaud.