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Pratap Pothen

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In this Indian name, the name Pothen is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Pratap.

Pratap Pothen
Born(1952-08-13)13 August 1952
Trivandrum, Travancore Cochin, India
Died15 July 2022(2022-07-15) (aged 69)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Alma materMadras Christian College
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film producer
  • scriptwriter
  • director
  • filmmaker
Years active1978–1995, 2005–2022
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1985; div. 1986)​
Amala Satyanath
​
(m. 1990)​
Children1

Pratap Pothen (13 August 1952 – 15 July 2022) was an Indian actor and filmmaker who acted in about 100 films[1] and directed 12 films. He appeared in Malayalam, Tamil 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.[2] His father is Pothan of the Kolathinkal house, Pothan was a businessman who died when Pratap was 15 years old.[2] Pratap had five siblings,[3] including an elder brother, Hari Pothan, who also worked as a film producer.[4]

Pratap was educated at the Lawrence School, Lovedale in Ooty.[3] 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.[5] 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.[5]

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.[2][6]

Film career

Pratap worked with The Madras Players.[5] After seeing Pratap's performance in Shaw's play Androcles and the Lion, Bharathan invited Pratap to appear in his Malayalam film Aaravam.[5]

Pratap later starred in three more films: Thakara, Lorry and Chamaram.[5]

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.[5] Prathap worked with Kamal Haasan in Vettri Vizhaa (1989).[5] The film is noteworthy for being the first Tamil movie to use a steadicam.[5]

Pratap created three more films in Malayalam Rithubhedam, Daisy, Oru Yathramozhi.[5] His only Telugu film is Chaitanya and his only role in Bollywood is in Guru.[5][7] 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.[8][9]

He directed Tamil films including Jeeva, Vettri Vizhaa, Seevalaperi Pandi and Lucky Man.[5]

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.[10][11]

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.[12]

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.[13]

Death

Pratap was found dead in his apartment in Kilpauk, Chennai on 15 July 2022.[2][14] He is believed to have died of natural causes.[14]

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Film Result Ref.
National Film Awards 1984 Best Debut Film of a Director Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai Won [15]
Kerala State Film Awards 2014 Special Jury Award for acting Once upon a Time There was a Kallan Won [16]
Filmfare Awards South 1979 Best Actor (Malayalam) Thakara Won [17]
Best Actor (Tamil) Azhiyatha Kolangal Nominated
1980 Best Actor (Malayalam) Chamaram Won [18]
Best Actor (Tamil) Nenjathai Killathe Nominated
1987 Best Director (Malayalam) Rithubhedam Won [19]
2012 Best Supporting Actor (Malayalam) Ayalum Njanum Thammil Nominated [20]
South Indian International Movie Awards 2012 Best Actor in a Negative Role (Malayalam) 22 Female Kottayam Won
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Malayalam) Ayalum Njanum Thammil Nominated
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

As actor

Year Film Role Language Notes
1978 Aaravam Kokkarakko Malayalam
1979 Thakara Thakara Malayalam Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam
Azhiyatha Kolangal Indumathi's husband Tamil
1980 Aarohanam Raju Malayalam
Pavizha Mutthu Santhosh Malayalam
Chandra Bimbam Gopi Malayalam
Thaliritta Kinakkal Malayalam
Ilamai Kolam Ilangovan Tamil
Lorry Dasappan Malayalam
Chamaram Vinod Malayalam Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam
Oormakale Vida Tharu Malayalam
Pappu Pappu Malayalam
Moodu Pani Chandru Tamil
Varumayin Niram Sivappu Prathap Tamil
Nenjathai Killathe Prathap Tamil
1981 Aakali Rajyam Pratap Telugu
Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo C. Kalyana Raman Tamil
Madhu Malar Tamil
Kudumbam Oru Kadambam Kannan Tamil
Panneer Pushpangal Prem Tamil
Sollathe Yarum Kettaal Tamil
Nenjil Oru Mull Prathap Tamil
Vaa Intha Pakkam Tamil
Thillu Mullu Himself Tamil Cameo appearance
Rani Tamil
Panimalar Tamil
Aparna Malayalam
1982 Vaazhvey Maayam Prathap Tamil
Amma Tamil
Echchil Iravugal Tamil
Oru Varisu Uruvagiradhu Tamil
Sattam Sirikkiradhu Raj Tamil
Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam Anil-Raju Malayalam
Idavela Malayalam
Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal Tamil
Nandri, Meendum Varuga Prathap Tamil
Preeyasakhi Radha Malayalam
Novemberinte Nashtam Das Malayalam
1983 America America Baby Malayalam
Yudhakaandam Tamil
Kaikeyi Malayalam
1984 Kanchana Ganga Mohan Telugu
Pudhumai Penn Advocate David Tamil
Justice Chakravarthy Pratap Telugu
Aksharangal Malayalam
Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai Ganapathi "Guppi" Tamil Also director
1985 Sindhu Bhairavi Sanjeevi Tamil
1986 Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare Josekutty Malayalam
1987 Manaivi Ready Doctor Tamil
Jallikattu Tamil Guest appearance
Nirabhedangal Jayadevan Malayalam
Pesum Padam Tamil
1988 En Jeevan Paduthu Dr. Vijay Tamil
Pushpaka Vimana Silent
Penmani Aval Kanmani Parandhaman Tamil
Raththa Dhanam Tamil
Jeeva Magician in song "Abracadabra" Tamil Cameo appearance
Ithuthan Arambam Tamil
1990 Sirayil Sila Raagangal Pratap Tamil
1992 Amaran Raja Varma Tamil
1997 Thedinen Vanthathu Vicky Tamil
2005 Priyasakhi Priya's father Tamil
Raam Psychiatrist Tamil
Thanmathra Doctor Malayalam
2006 Chukkallo Chandrudu Prakash Telugu
2007 Guru K. R. Menon I.A.S. Hindi
2008 Velli Thirai Himself Tamil Cameo appearance
2009 Calendar Cleetus Malayalam
Padikathavan Ramakrishnan Tamil
Sarvam Psychiatrist Tamil Cameo appearance
2010 Aayirathil Oruvan Chandramouli Tamil
Veerasekaran Tamil
Maro Charitra Balu's father Telugu
Pulliman Malayalam
2011 Muran Tamil Cameo appearance
2012 22 Female Kottayam Hegde Malayalam SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role
Ayalum Njanum Thammil Dr.Samuel Malayalam
Suzhal Matthews Tamil
2013 Alex Pandian Radhakrishnan Tamil
3 Dots Padmakumar/Pappettan Malayalam
Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha Alex Paul Malayalam
Up & Down - Mukalil Oralundu Edathil Govindan Nair Malayalam
Arikil Oraal Sudhir Bose Malayalam
Idukki Gold Micheal Malayalam
2014 London Bridge C S Nambiar Malayalam
Bangalore Days Francis Malayalam
Alice: A True Story Dr. Sivapanchanathan Malayalam
Munnariyippu KK Malayalam
Poojai Divya's Father Tamil
Vegam Benny Malayalam
Once Upon A Time There Was A Kallan Malayalam
2015 Mariyam Mukku Father Gabriel Malayalam
Yevade Subramanyam Butterfly Park Worker Telugu
Appavum Veenjum Fernandez Malayalam
Kanal Raghu Malayalam
2016 Remo Dr. Ravichandran Tamil
2017 Ezra Col.Nambiar Malayalam
Sathura Adi 3500 Fahad Tamil
Veedevadu Dr. Xavier D'Souza Telugu
Yaar Ivan Tamil
2019 Uyare Senior Air Traffic Controller Malayalam
Kolaiyuthir Kaalam Tamil
2020 Pachamanga Malayalam
Forensic Dr. Jayakumar Menon Malayalam
Ponmagal Vandhal Judge Tamil
2021 Kamali From Nadukkaveri Arivudainambi Tamil
Tughlaq Durbar Doctor Tamil Cameo appearance
2022 CBI 5: The Brain Dr. George Abraham Malayalam
Coffee with Kadhal Ravi, Saravanan, Varshini and Kathir's father Tamil Posthumous release
Yugi Purushothaman Tamil Posthumous release
Adrishyam Purushothaman Malayalam Posthumous release
2023 Grey: The Spy Who Loved Me Sudarshan Reddy Telugu Posthumous release[21]
2024 Ippadiku Kadhal Tamil Posthumous release
TBA Barroz: Guardian of D'Gama's Treasure † TBA Malayalam Posthumous release
TBA Her † TBA Malayalam [22]

As director

Year Film Language Notes
1985 Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai Tamil Also actor and writer
Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director
1987 Rithubhedam Malayalam Filmfare Award for Best Director – Malayalam
1988 Daisy Malayalam Also writer
1988 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

As writer

Television

  • Naalaya Iyakkunar (2019) (Kalaignar TV) (Tamil)

References

  1. ^ "Actor-director Pratap Pothen passes away". The Times of India. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Malayalam actor Pratap Pothen passes away". Onmanorama. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b "The affable eccentric Prathap Pothan". The New Indian Express. 1 May 2010. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Vincent Master was a great man: Pratap Pothen". Times of India. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022. Hari Pothen, my brother, started his career as a producer with him
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Pratap Pothen". FilmiBeat. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  6. ^ "My marriages were experiments which failed: Pratap Pothen on his divorces". onmanorama.com. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  7. ^ Gurjar, Gagan (15 July 2022). "'गुरु' में अभिषेक बच्चन के साथ दिखे प्रताप पोथेन का निधन, घर में मृत मिले 69 साल के दिग्गज एक्टर". Asianet News Hindi (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Actor and filmmaker Pratap Pothen found dead at flat in Chennai". Mathrubhumi. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  9. ^ Kumar, P.K Ajith (15 July 2022). "Prathap Pothen | An actor who made his characters believable". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Meaty role for Maddy". The Hindu. 16 March 2007. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Tamil Cinema News | Tamil Movie Reviews | Tamil Movie Trailers – IndiaGlitz Tamil". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Prathap Pothen in Green Apple malayalam movie by Haridas". nowboxoffice.com. 27 June 2013. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  13. ^ "RIP Pratap Pothen: Colleagues remember the 'man so full of life'". 16 July 2022. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Actor Prathap Pothen no more". The Hindu. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  15. ^ "32nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Much deserved award for Pothen's 100th film – Once Upon A Time There Was A Kallan". English Mathrubhumi News. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  17. ^ "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 1982. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  18. ^ "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 1982. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  19. ^ "35th Filmfare Awards South Winners[ 1]". 4 February 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  20. ^ "60th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013 South Nominations". Filmfare South. 4 July 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Grey: The Spy Who Loved Me Review: Raj Madiraju's Spy Thriller Works But Only In Parts". News18. 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Her first-look poster out: Parvathy, Aishwarya Rajesh, Oorvasi, Remya Nambessan headline Lijin Jose's film". The Indian Express. 26 November 2022. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
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