Actor-filmmaker Pratap Pothen passes away

Actor-filmmaker Pratap Pothen passed away on Friday morning at his residence in Chennai. He was 70.

According to reports, the actor was found dead at his house. Further details about the cause of death are yet to be known.

Pratap had acted in over 100 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and Telugu. He was born on August 13, 1952, to his father Kulathukunal Pothen and his mother Ponnamma Pothen in Thiruvananthapuram.
He did his schooling in Ooty and developed an interest in acting after joining college. After completing his graduation from Madras Christian college, Prathap moved to Mumbai to work as a copywriter for an Ad agency.

Pratap made his acting debut with the 1978 Malayalam film Aaravam. Pratap rose to fame with his performances in three films Thakara (1979), Lorry (1980) and Chamaram (1980). He was also part of the theatre group The Madras Players.

In Tamil, he acted in Moodupani (1980), Varumayin Niram Sivappu (1980), Nenjathai Killathe (1980), and Panneer Pushpangal (1981). His most memorable role was in Varumayin Niram Sivappu, directed by K Balachander. 1985, he directed his first film Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai, which won a national award.

He also directed hit Tamil films – Jeeva (1988), Vettri Vizhaa (1989), Seevalaperi Pandi (1994) and Lucky Man (1995).
In the last few years of his career, the actor was busy with his ad agency, Green apple and worked on commercials. He also hosted a TV show called Naalaya Iyakkynar.

Prathap married actor Radhika in 1985 the couple separated in 1986. Later, he remarried Amala Sathyanath in 1990 and they were separated in 2012. The couple has a daughter named Keya Pothen.

This is a developing story.