Pratap Pothen (Pratap K. Pothen) is an established actor,director,producer and writer of mainly Malayalam and Tamil films.He has also acted in a few Hindi films. He directed 8 Tamil films,3 Malayalam films and 1 Telugu film.He received National Award-Indira Gandhi Award for Best first film of a Director for his Tamil movie‘Meendum Oru Kathal Kathai‘ in 1985.He earned much popularity and critical acclaim by directing the Malayalam film ‘Oru Yathramozhi’ with Sivaji Ganesan and Mohanlal in the leads.
His Malayalam film ‘Rithubhedam’ in 89 received Filmfare Award for Best Director(Malayalam).He directed Tamil films with top actors like KamalHassan,Sathyaraj,Prabhu Ganesan,Kartik,Napoleon etc.
Pratap Pothen was born on February 15, 1952 in Thiruvananthapuram as the son of well famous business man ‘Kulathunkal Pothen’.He studied at ‘Lawrence School, Lovedale in Ootty.His father died when he was 15 years old.Pratap Pothen completed his B.A.Degree course in 1972 and worked for a short period at places like Mumbai.His elder brother ‘Hari Pothen‘ was established film producer who made hits and classics in Malayalam under the banner ‘Supriya’.Prathap Pothen had the acting talents and when once director Bharathan witnessed his acting talent on stage at Chennai he invited him to act in his films.He entered films in 1979 and Tamil film ‘Azhiyatha Kolangal’ was released in that year. Malayalam film ‘Thakara’ which was directed by Bharathan released in 1980 was a blockbuster success.That film gave tremendous and instant popularity for Pratap Pothen.Pratap Pothen and Surekha were in the leads and Nedumudi Venu acted in supporting role as ‘Chellappanasari’.The film boosted the acting career of Nedumudi Venu also.
1980 was a lucky year for Pratap Pothen who received nice roles in many other films like ‘Chamaram,Lorry,Pappu etc in Malayalam and ‘Varumayin niram Sivappu,Moodu Pani etc in Tamil.
‘Chamaram’ told the story of a college student who felt love towards his teacher and it fetched him a Filmfare Best Actor Award along with Thakara.
In the Tamil film ‘Varumayin niram Sivappu‘ he acted along the main pair Kamala Hassan and Sri Devi.Pratap Pothen handled the role of an eccentric director with an unhealthy obsession for an actress.
Sobha and Pratap Pothen were the leading pair of the Tamil film ‘Moodu Pani’ (The Mist) in 1980.It was directed by Balu Mahendra.
‘Kudumbam Oru Kadambam’ was a Tamil film of 81 in which Pratap Pothen and Sumalatha acted as a couple.Suhasini and S.V.Sekhar also acted in this film in prime roles.The film was directed by S.P.Muthuraman and highlighted the message that ‘money is required for life but life must not be entirely consumed by money’.
In 1982 he acted along with Mohan Lal,Ratheesh,Lakshmi,Madhavi etc in the hit film‘Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam’ which was directed by I.V.Sasi.The film was entirely shot at Kathmandu.
In the critically acclaimed film ‘Novemberinte Nashtam’ written and directed by P.Padmarajan, Pratap Pothen,V.Ramachandran,Surekha,Madhavi etc acted.Pratap Pothen (Das) acted as Mahavi’s (Meera) lover in this film.
In the film Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare’ he was depicted as the late husband of Aleena (Asha Jayaram).
Malayalam film ‘Daisy’ which he directed in 1988 received good responses from critics and audience.Harish and Sonia acted as the main pair of this movie which had a romantic theme.
He directed Tamil film ‘Vetri Vizha‘(89) which became a blockbuster success. Kamal Hassan,Prabhu,Amala and Khushboo were in the leads of this movie which dealt the story of an amnesiac who struggles to find his past after a memory loss.
He directed the Tamil film ‘Lucky Man’ in 1995 in which Kartik and Sanghavi were the leads.It was the remake of Telugu film ‘Yamaleela’ of 94.
He acted in Malayalam films like ‘Pulliman,22 Female Kottayam,3 Dots,Arikil Oral,Munnariyippu etc in Malayalam and ‘Muran,Alex Pandian,Poojai etc in Tamil.
In the Malayalam film ‘Bangalore Days’ directed by Anjali Menon in 2014, he acted as the father of Natasha Francis.(Nithya Menon).
In the 2014 Malayalam film ‘Munnariyippu’ he acted along with Mammootty,Aparna Gopinath,Nedumudi Venu etc as the character’ KK ‘.
Pratap Pothen married Tamil actress Radhika in 1985 but got divorced in 86, He married Amala Sathyanath in 1990 and a daughter was born to them in 1991.Pratap Pothen and Amala also got divorced in 2012.
Selected Filmography
As an Actor
Aaravam
Thakara
Chamaram
Lorry
Pappu
Arohanam
Moodu Pani
Chandra Bimbam
Imai Kolam
Kudambam Oru Kadambam
Thillu Mullu
Paneer Pushpangal
America America
Kaikeyi
Aksharangal
Sindhu Bhairavi
Jallikattu
Nirabhedangal
Pushpak
Thanmatra
Guru
Velli Thirai
Padikkathavan
Saram
22 Female Kottayam
Aaru Sundarikalude Katha
Up&Down Mukalil Oralundu
Arikil Oral
London Bridge
Bangalore Days
Munnariyippu
Poojai
As a Director
Meendum Oru Kathal Kathai
Rithubhedam
Jeeva
Daisy
Vetri Vizha
My dear Marthandan
Chaithanya
Magudam
Athma
Seethavalaperi Pandi
Lucky Man
Oru Yathra Mozhi
As a Writer
Solla Thudikathu Manassu
