Pratap Pothen

{{Infobox actor

| name = Pratap Pothen

| image = Pratap Pothen.jpg

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1952|08|13}}

| birth_place = Trivandrum, Travancore Cochin, India

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2022|07|15|1952|08|13}}

| death_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

| occupation = {{Hlist|Actor|film producer|scriptwriter|director|filmmaker}}

| years_active = 1978–1995, 2005–2022

| alma mater =

Madras Christian College

| spouse = {{Plainlist|

{{Marriage|Radhika Sarathkumar|1985|1986|end=divorce}}
{{Marriage|Amala Satyanath|1990}}

}}

| children = 1

}}

Pratap Pothen (13 August 1952 – 15 July 2022) was an Indian actor and filmmaker who acted in about 100 films{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/actor-director-pratap-pothen-passes-away/articleshow/92890828.cms | title=Actor-director Pratap Pothen passes away | work=The Times of India | date=15 July 2022 | accessdate=15 July 2022 | archive-date=15 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715050040/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/actor-director-pratap-pothen-passes-away/articleshow/92890828.cms | url-status=live }} and directed 12 films. He appeared in Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu as well as Hindi films. He also worked as a scriptwriter and producer for films.

Early life and career

Pratap was born in Trivandrum, Kerala on 13 August 1952. His father was Pothan of the Kolathinkal house, a businessman who died in 1967, when Pratap was 15 years old. Pratap had five siblings, including an elder brother, Hari Pothan, who also worked as a film producer.{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/vincent-master-was-a-great-man-pratap-pothen/articleshow/46383716.cms |title=Vincent Master was a great man: Pratap Pothen |work=Times of India |date=26 February 2015 |access-date=15 July 2022 |quote=Hari Pothen, my brother, started his career as a producer with him |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715072545/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/vincent-master-was-a-great-man-pratap-pothen/articleshow/46383716.cms |url-status=live }}

Pratap was educated at the Lawrence School, Lovedale in Ooty.{{Cite news |title=The affable eccentric Prathap Pothan |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2010/may/01/the-affable-eccentric-prathap-pothan-151729.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=1 May 2010 |access-date=15 July 2022 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126183242/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2010/may/01/the-affable-eccentric-prathap-pothan-151729.html |url-status=dead }} Initially, he was interested in painting; however, once he joined college, he started acting in plays with the help of his friends, and gradually got more interested in acting than painting.{{Cite web |url=https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/pratap-pothen/biography.html |title=Pratap Pothen |access-date=15 July 2022 |work=FilmiBeat |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715105342/https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/pratap-pothen/biography.html |url-status=live }} After his graduation from the Madras Christian College, Pratap worked as a copywriter in an ad agency in Mumbai. Later he also worked at Sistas ad agency and Hindustan Thomson.

Personal life

Pratap married actress Radhika in 1985, but their marriage did not last long and they separated in 1986. In 1990, he married Amala Sathyanath, with whom he had a daughter, Keya.{{Cite web |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/07/15/pratap-pothen-marriage-divorce-experiments.html |date=15 July 2022 |website=onmanorama.com |title=My marriages were experiments which failed: Pratap Pothen on his divorces |access-date=25 July 2022 |archive-date=25 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725185152/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/07/15/pratap-pothen-marriage-divorce-experiments.html |url-status=live }}

Film career

Pratap worked with The Madras Players. After seeing Pratap's performance in Shaw's play Androcles and the Lion, Bharathan invited Pratap to appear in his Malayalam film Aaravam.

Pratap later starred in three more films: Thakara, Lorry and Chamaram.

He also acted in Tamil films such as Moodupani, Varumayin Niram Sivappu, Nenjathai Killathe, Panneer Pushpangal. His debut as a director was in Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai, which he received a national award for. Prathap worked with Kamal Haasan in Vettri Vizhaa (1989). The film is noteworthy for being the first Tamil movie to use a steadicam.

Pratap created three more films in Malayalam Rithubhedam, Daisy, Oru Yathramozhi. His only Telugu film is Chaitanya and his only role in Bollywood is in Guru.{{Cite news |last=Gurjar |first=Gagan |date=2022-07-15 |title='गुरु' में अभिषेक बच्चन के साथ दिखे प्रताप पोथेन का निधन, घर में मृत मिले 69 साल के दिग्गज एक्टर |url=https://hindi.asianetnews.com/south-cinema/guru-fame-actor-pratap-pothen-found-dead-in-his-house-gga-rf1xa8 |access-date=2022-07-15 |work=Asianet News Hindi |language=hi |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714084503/https://hindi.asianetnews.com/south-cinema/guru-fame-actor-pratap-pothen-found-dead-in-his-house-gga-rf1xa8 |url-status=live }} His notable roles in Malayalam cinema include Once Upon A Time There Was A Kallan, Ayalum Njanum Thammil, 22 Female Kottayam, Idukki Gold, Ezra, Uyare, and Bangalore Days.{{Cite news |date=15 July 2022 |title=Actor and filmmaker Pratap Pothen found dead at flat in Chennai |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/actor-and-filmmaker-pratap-pothen-found-dead-at-flat-in-chennai-pratap-pothen-dead-pothen-demise-1.7695828 |access-date=2022-07-15 |newspaper=Mathrubhumi |language=en |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715102937/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/actor-and-filmmaker-pratap-pothen-found-dead-at-flat-in-chennai-pratap-pothen-dead-pothen-demise-1.7695828 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=P.K Ajith |date=2022-07-15 |title=Prathap Pothen {{!}} An actor who made his characters believable |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/prathap-pothen-an-actor-who-made-his-characters-believable/article65643159.ece |access-date=2022-07-15 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715120937/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/prathap-pothen-an-actor-who-made-his-characters-believable/article65643159.ece |url-status=live }}

He directed Tamil films including Jeeva, Vettri Vizhaa, Seevalaperi Pandi and Lucky Man.

In 2006, Pratap Pothan announced that he would direct Madhavan in a script written by K. Rajeswar. Pre-production works proved to be difficult and the film went through several changes of title and lead actress, before it was announced that the film would be called Oru Naal Podhuma and would feature Rukmini Vijayakumar in the leading female role. The team had made plans to complete shooting for the film in Canada, though creative differences meant that the film was subsequently shelved.{{Cite news|date=2007-03-16|title=Meaty role for Maddy|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/meaty-role-for-maddy/article2271781.ece|access-date=2020-06-05|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=5 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605135629/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/meaty-role-for-maddy/article2271781.ece|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Tamil Cinema News {{!}} Tamil Movie Reviews {{!}} Tamil Movie Trailers – IndiaGlitz Tamil|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/tamil|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813033148/http://www.indiaglitz.com/tamil|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 August 2014|access-date=2020-06-05|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}

In the last few years, he was busy with his ad agency named "Green Apple" and focused on commercials for MRF Tyres and Nippo. He used to host Naalaya Iyakkunar on Kalaignar TV.{{cite web |url=http://nowboxoffice.com/prathap-pothen-in-green-apple-movie-by-haridas/ |title=Prathap Pothen in Green Apple malayalam movie by Haridas |publisher=nowboxoffice.com |date=June 27, 2013 |accessdate=2022-05-08 |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525022300/http://nowboxoffice.com/prathap-pothen-in-green-apple-movie-by-haridas/ |url-status=live }}

The turn of the century saw him playing many gratifying roles in films like Priyasakhi, Aayirathil Oruvan and Ponmagal Vandhal. As a filmmaker, in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, he directed veterans like Sivaji Ganesan, Mohanlal, Kamal Haasan, Thilakan and Nagarjuna.{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2022/jul/15/rip-pratap-pothen-colleagues-remember-the-man-sofull-of-life-2477004.html | title=RIP Pratap Pothen: Colleagues remember the 'man so full of life' | date=16 July 2022 | access-date=3 August 2022 | archive-date=3 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803005621/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2022/jul/15/rip-pratap-pothen-colleagues-remember-the-man-sofull-of-life-2477004.html | url-status=live }}

Death

Pratap was found dead in his apartment in Kilpauk, Chennai on 15 July 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/07/15/malayalam-actor-pratap-pothen-passes-away.html |title=Malayalam actor Pratap Pothen passes away |work=Onmanorama |date=15 July 2022 |access-date=15 July 2022 |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715041251/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/07/15/malayalam-actor-pratap-pothen-passes-away.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=15 July 2022 |title=Actor Prathap Pothen no more |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/actor-prathap-pothen-no-more/article65642869.ece |access-date=15 July 2022 |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715053033/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/actor-prathap-pothen-no-more/article65642869.ece |url-status=live }} He is believed to have died of natural causes.

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Category	Film	Result	{{Tooltip\|Ref.\|References}}
class="wikitable"
National Film Awards	1984	Best Debut Film of a Director	Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai	{{Won}}	{{cite web\|url=https://www.dff.gov.in/images/Documents/85_32ndNfacatalogue.pdf\|title=32nd National Film Awards\|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals\|access-date=15 July 2022\|archive-date=29 June 2022\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629033308/http://www.dff.gov.in/images/Documents/85_32ndNfacatalogue.pdf\|url-status=live}}
Kerala State Film Awards	2014	Special Jury Award for acting	Once upon a Time There was a Kallan	{{Won}}	{{cite news \|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/an-award-that-came-late-pothen-s-win-of-kerala-state-film-award-in-2014-for-his-100th-film-1.7695886 \|title=Much deserved award for Pothen's 100th film – Once Upon A Time There Was A Kallan \|date=15 July 2022 \|access-date=15 July 2022 \|work=English Mathrubhumi News \|archive-date=9 July 2023 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709045020/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/amp/movies-music/news/an-award-that-came-late-pothen-s-win-of-kerala-state-film-award-in-2014-for-his-100th-film-1.7695886 \|url-status=live }}
rowspan="6" \| Filmfare Awards South	rowspan="2" \| 1979	Best Actor (Malayalam)	Thakara	{{Won}}	{{Cite web\|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=N6kQAQAAMAAJ&q=Pratap+Pothan+Thakara\|title = The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who\|year = 1982\|access-date = 15 July 2022\|archive-date = 15 July 2022\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220715095807/https://books.google.com/books?id=N6kQAQAAMAAJ&q=Pratap+Pothan+Thakara\|url-status = live}}
Best Actor (Tamil)	Azhiyatha Kolangal	{{Nom}}
rowspan="2" \| 1980	Best Actor (Malayalam)	Chamaram	{{Won}}	{{Cite web\| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N6kQAQAAMAAJ&q=Pratap+Pothan+chamaram\| title=The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who\| year=1982\| access-date=15 July 2022\| archive-date=15 July 2022\| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715095842/https://books.google.com/books?id=N6kQAQAAMAAJ&q=Pratap+Pothan+chamaram\| url-status=live}}
Best Actor (Tamil)	Nenjathai Killathe	{{Nom}}
1987	Best Director (Malayalam)	Rithubhedam	{{Won}}	{{Cite web\|url=https://archive.org/details/35thFilmfareAwardsSouthWinners1\|title = 35th Filmfare Awards South Winners[ 1]\|date = 4 February 2017\|access-date=15 July 2022}}
2012	Best Supporting Actor (Malayalam)	Ayalum Njanum Thammil	{{Nom}}	{{cite news\|url=https://m.filmfare.com/features/60th-idea-filmfare-awards-2013-south-nominations-3603-2.html#descArticle\|title=60th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013 South Nominations\|date=4 July 2013\|access-date=15 July 2022\|work=Filmfare South\|archive-date=14 July 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714084508/https://m.filmfare.com/features/60th-idea-filmfare-awards-2013-south-nominations-3603-2.html#descArticle\|url-status=live}}
rowspan="2" \|South Indian International Movie Awards	rowspan="2" \| 2012	Best Actor in a Negative Role (Malayalam)	22 Female Kottayam	{{Won}}
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Malayalam)	Ayalum Njanum Thammil	{{Nom}}
Asianet Film Awards	2013	Special Jury Mention for acting	Idukki Gold 3 Dots	{{Won}}
Vanitha Film Awards	2012	Best Supporting Actor	Ayalum Njanum Thammil	{{Won}}

Filmography

Order based on number of films that he acted in.

= As an actor =

== Tamil films ==

Year	Film	Role	Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1979	Azhiyatha Kolangal	Indumathi's husband	Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
rowspan="4" \|1980	Ilamai Kolam	Ilangovan
\| Moodu Pani	Chandru
\| Varumayin Niram Sivappu	Prathap
\| Nenjathai Killathe	Prathap	Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
rowspan="10" \| 1981	Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo	C. Kalyana Raman
\| Madhu Malar	Madhu
\| Kudumbam Oru Kadambam	Kannan
\| Panneer Pushpangal	Prem
\| Sollathe Yarum Kettaal
\| Nenjil Oru Mull	Prathap
\| Vaa Intha Pakkam
\| Thillu Mullu	Himself	Cameo appearance
\| Rani
\| Panimalar
rowspan="7" \| 1982	Vaazhvey Maayam	Prathap
\| Amma
\| Echchil Iravugal
\| Oru Varisu Uruvagiradhu
\| Sattam Sirikkiradhu	Raj
\| Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal
\| Nandri, Meendum Varuga	Prathap
1983	Yudhakaandam
rowspan="2" \| 1984	Pudhumai Penn	Advocate David
\| Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai	Ganapathi "Guppi"	Also director
1985	Sindhu Bhairavi	Sanjeevi
rowspan="2" \| 1987	Manaivi Ready	Doctor
\| Jallikattu		Guest appearance
rowspan="5" \| 1988	En Jeevan Paduthu	Dr. Vijay
\| Penmani Aval Kanmani	Parandhaman
\| Raththa Dhanam
\|Jeeva	Magician in song "Abracadabra"	Cameo appearance
\| Ithuthan Arambam
1990	Sirayil Sila Raagangal	Pratap
1992	Amaran	Raja Varma
1997	Thedinen Vanthathu	Vicky
rowspan="2" \| 2005	Priyasakhi	Priya's father
\| Raam	Psychiatrist
2008	Velli Thirai	Himself	Cameo appearance
rowspan="2" \|2009	Padikathavan	Ramakrishnan
\| Sarvam	Psychiatrist	Cameo appearance
rowspan="2" \| 2010	Aayirathil Oruvan	Chandramouli
\| Veerasekaran
2011	Muran		Cameo appearance
2012	Suzhal	Matthews
2013	Alex Pandian	Radhakrishnan
2014	Poojai	Divya's Father
2016	Remo	Dr. Ravichandran
rowspan="2" \|2017	Sathura Adi 3500	Fahad
Yaar Ivan	Dr. Xavier D'Souza
2019	Kolaiyuthir Kaalam	Business manager
2020	Ponmagal Vandhal	Judge
rowspan="2" \| 2021	Kamali From Nadukkaveri	Arivudainambi
Tughlaq Durbar	Doctor	Cameo appearance
rowspan="2" \|2022	Coffee with Kadhal	Ravi, Saravanan, Varshini and Kathir's father	Posthumous release
Yugi	Purushothaman	Posthumous release
2024	Ippadiku Kadhal		Posthumous release
2025	Gajaana		Posthumous release

==Malayalam films==

Year	Film	Role	Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1978	Aaravam	Kokkarakko
1979	Thakara	Thakara	Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam
rowspan="8" \| 1980	Aarohanam	Raju
\| Pavizha Mutthu	Santhosh
\|Chandra Bimbam	Gopi
\| Thaliritta Kinakkal
\| Lorry	Dasappan
\|Chamaram	Vinod	Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam
\| Oormakale Vida Tharu
\|Pappu	Pappu
1981	Aparna
rowspan="4" \|1982	Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam	Anil-Raju
\| Idavela
\| Preeyasakhi Radha
\| Novemberinte Nashtam	Das
Olangal(?) Malayalam (?) \| rowspan="2" \| 1983	America America	Baby
\| Kaikeyi
1984	Aksharangal
1986	Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare	Josekutty
1987	Nirabhedangal	Jayadevan
2005	Thanmathra	Doctor
2009	Calendar	Cleetus
2010	Pulliman
rowspan="2" \| 2012	22 Female Kottayam	Hegde	SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role
\| Ayalum Njanum Thammil	Dr.Samuel	Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Malayalam
rowspan="5" \|2013	3 Dots	Padmakumar/Pappettan
\| Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha	Alex Paul
\| Up & Down - Mukalil Oralundu	Edathil Govindan Nair
\| Arikil Oraal	Sudhir Bose
\| Idukki Gold	Micheal
rowspan="6" \| 2014	London Bridge	C S Nambiar
\| Bangalore Days	Francis
\| Alice: A True Story	Dr. Sivapanchanathan
\| Munnariyippu	KK
\| Vegam	Benny
Once Upon A Time There Was A Kallan
rowspan="3" \| 2015	Mariyam Mukku	Father Gabriel
Appavum Veenjum	Fernandez
Kanal	Raghu
2017	Ezra	Col.Nambiar
2019	Uyare	Senior Air Traffic Controller
rowspan="2" \| 2020	Pachamanga
\| Forensic	Dr. Jayakumar Menon
rowspan="2" \| 2022	CBI 5: The Brain	Dr. George Abraham
Adrishyam	Purushothaman	Posthumous release
2024	Her	Vijayakumar	Posthumous release{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-26 \|title=Her first-look poster out: Parvathy, Aishwarya Rajesh, Oorvasi, Remya Nambessan headline Lijin Jose's film \|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/her-first-look-poster-parvathy-aishwarya-rajesh-oorvasi-remya-nambessan-lijin-jose-film-8291376/ \|access-date=2023-04-04 \|website=The Indian Express \|language=en \|archive-date=4 April 2023 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404174743/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/her-first-look-poster-parvathy-aishwarya-rajesh-oorvasi-remya-nambessan-lijin-jose-film-8291376/ \|url-status=live }}

==Telugu films==

Year	Film	Role	Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1981	Aakali Rajyam	Pratap
rowspan="2" \| 1984	Kanchana Ganga	Mohan
\| Justice Chakravarthy	Pratap
2006	Chukkallo Chandrudu	Prakash
2010	Maro Charitra	Balu's father
2015	Yevade Subramanyam	Butterfly Park Worker
2017	Veedevadu	Dr. Xavier D'Souza
2023	Grey: The Spy Who Loved Me	Sudarshan Reddy	Posthumous release{{Cite web \|date=2023-05-27 \|title=Grey: The Spy Who Loved Me Review: Raj Madiraju's Spy Thriller Works But Only In Parts \|url=https://www.news18.com/movies/grey-the-spy-who-loved-me-review-raj-madirajus-spy-thriller-works-but-only-in-parts-7934035.html \|access-date=2023-05-31 \|website=News18 \|language=en \|archive-date=1 June 2023 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601131648/https://www.news18.com/movies/grey-the-spy-who-loved-me-review-raj-madirajus-spy-thriller-works-but-only-in-parts-7934035.html \|url-status=live }}

==Other language films==

Year	Film	Role	Language
class="wikitable sortable"
1987	Pushpaka Vimana		Silent
2007	Guru	K. R. Menon I.A.S.	Hindi

=As director=

Year	Film	Language	Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1985	Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai	Tamil	Also actor, producer and writer Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director
1987	Rithubhedam	Malayalam	Filmfare Award for Best Director – Malayalam
rowspan="2"\|1988	Daisy	Malayalam	Also writer
Jeeva	Tamil	Also writer
1989	Vetri Vizha	Tamil	Also writer
1990	My Dear Marthandan	Tamil	Also writer
1991	Chaitanya	Telugu	Also writer
1992	Magudam	Tamil	Also writer
1993	Athma	Tamil	Also writer
1994	Seevalaperi Pandi	Tamil
1995	Lucky Man	Tamil	Also writer
1997	Oru Yathramozhi	Malayalam