Prathap K. Pothan

Pothan worked between 1952 and 2022 across film director, film producer, actor and screenwriter. This article rests on 2 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

• Name — Pratap Pothen • Born — 13 August 1952 • Birthplace — Trivandrum, Travancore–Cochin (present day Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala), India • Died — 15 July 2022 • Place of death — Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India • Occupation — * Actor • film producer • scriptwriter • director • filmmaker • Years Active — 1978–1995, 2005–2022 • Education — Madras Christian College • Children — 1

Pratap was born in Thiruvananthapuram, 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. Pratap was educated at the Lawrence School, Lovedale in Ooty. 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. 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.

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 named Keya.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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

Order based on number of films that he acted in.

• Year — Film — Language — Notes • 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 • 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

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

Pothan was born on 13 August 1952 in Thiruvananthapuram. Pothan held the nationality of India. Pothan was educated at Madras Christian College and Lawrence School, Lovedale. Pothan worked as film director, film producer, actor and screenwriter. Pothan was active from 1978 to 2022. Pothan worked in Hindi and Malayalam.

Pothan worked for the screen, as film director, film producer and screenwriter. 12 films survive in the institutional catalogues, spanning 1985 to 1997. Among them are Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai (1985), Rithubhedam (1987), Daisy (1988), Jeeva (1988), Vetri Vizha (1989) and My Dear Marthandan (1990). The whole run is set out in the catalogue below.

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1979 — Azhiyatha Kolangal — Indumathi's husband — Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil • 1980 — Ilamai Kolam — Ilangovan • | Moodu Pani — Chandru • | Varumayin Niram Sivappu — Prathap • | Nenjathai Killathe — Prathap — Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil • 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 • 1982 — Vaazhvey Maayam — Prathap • | Amma • | Echchil Iravugal • | Oru Varisu Uruvagiradhu • | Sattam Sirikkiradhu — Raj • | Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal • | Nandri, Meendum Varuga — Prathap • 1983 — Yudhakaandam • 1984 — Pudhumai Penn — Advocate David • | Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai — Ganapathi "Guppi" — Also director • 1985 — Sindhu Bhairavi — Sanjeevi • 1987 — Manaivi Ready — Doctor • | Jallikattu — Guest appearance • 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 • 2005 — Priyasakhi — Priya's father • | Raam — Psychiatrist • 2008 — Velli Thirai — Himself — Cameo appearance • 2009 — Padikathavan — Ramakrishnan • | Sarvam — Psychiatrist — Cameo appearance • 2010 — Aayirathil Oruvan — Chandramouli • | Veerasekaran • 2011 — Muran — Cameo appearance • 2012 — Suzhal — Daniel Mathews • 2013 — Alex Pandian — Radhakrishnan • 2014 — Poojai — Divya's Father • 2016 — Remo — Dr. Ravichandran • 2017 — Sathura Adi 3500 — Fahad • Yaar Ivan — Dr. Xavier D'Souza • 2019 — Kolaiyuthir Kaalam — Business manager • 2020 — Ponmagal Vandhal — Judge • 2021 — Kamali From Nadukkaveri — Arivudainambi • Tughlaq Durbar — Doctor — Cameo appearance • 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

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1978 — Aaravam — Kokkarakko • 1979 — Thakara — Thakara — Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam • 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 • 1982 — | Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam — Anil-Raju • | Idavela • | Preeyasakhi Radha • | Novemberinte Nashtam — Das • 1983 — America America — Baby • | Kaikeyi • 1984 — | Aksharangal • 1986 — Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare — Josekutty • 1987 — | Nirabhedangal — Jayadevan • 2005 — | Thanmathra — Doctor • 2009 — Calendar — Cleetus • 2010 — | Pulliman • 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 • 2013 — | 3 Dots — Padmakumar/Pappettan • | Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha — Alex Paul • | Up & Down - Mukalil Oralundu — Edathil Govindan Nair • | Arikil Oraal — Sudhir Bose • | Idukki Gold — Michael • 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 • 2015 — Mariyam Mukku — Father Gabriel • Appavum Veenjum — Fernandez • Kanal — Raghu • 2017 — Ezra — Col.Nambiar • 2019 — Uyare — Senior Air Traffic Controller • 2020 — Pachamanga • | Forensic — Dr. Jayakumar Menon • 2022 — CBI 5: The Brain — Dr. George Abraham • Adrishyam — Purushothaman — Posthumous release • 2024 — Her — Vijayakumar — Posthumous release

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1981 — Aakali Rajyam — Pratap • 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

• Year — Film — Role — Language — Notes • 1987 — Pushpaka Vimana — Sound • 2007 — Guru — K. R. Menon I.A.S. — Hindi

• Award — Year — Category — Film — Result — References • National Film Awards — 1984 — Best Debut Film of a Director — Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai • Kerala State Film Awards — 2014 — Special Jury Award for acting — Once upon a Time There was a Kallan • Filmfare Awards South — 1979 — Best Actor (Malayalam) — Thakara • Best Actor (Tamil) — Azhiyatha Kolangal • 1980 — Best Actor (Malayalam) — Chamaram • Best Actor (Tamil) — Nenjathai Killathe • 1987 — Best Director (Malayalam) — Rithubhedam • 2012 — Best Supporting Actor (Malayalam) — Ayalum Njanum Thammil • South Indian International Movie Awards — 2012 — Best Actor in a Negative Role (Malayalam) — 22 Female Kottayam • Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Malayalam) — Ayalum Njanum Thammil • Asianet Film Awards — 2013 — Special Jury Mention for acting — Idukki Gold 3 Dots • Vanitha Film Awards — 2012 — Best Supporting Actor — Ayalum Njanum Thammil