Pratap Pothen

Pratap Pothen (born 13 August 1952), is an Indian actor, director, writer, and producer who has acted in about 100 films. He has acted in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu as well as Hindi films. He directed films in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu.

Early life and background
Pratap was born in Thiruvananthapuram. His father Kolathinkal Pothen was a well known businessman of Thiruvananthapuram. He has two brothers and two sisters. He did his schooling at Lawrence School, Lovedale, in Ooty. He finished Schooling in 1968. His elder brother Hari Pothen was also a film producer was married to then-famous actress Jayabharathi for a short while. His father died when he was 15. His mother died when he was 29. The youngest of five children, he grew up in a household where art, politics, entertainment and business co-existed, allowing him to experience a large cross-section of life from his ancestral home in Trivandrum in Kerala.

College life
Pratap gained admission to Madras Christian College (MCC), Madras. Pratap remained friends with those he went to school and MCC with. His friends helped him act in plays at college and his interest turned to acting from painting.

He left MCC with a B.A in Economics in 1971. Pratap started to work as a copywriter in an ad agency in Mumbai. After a year, he joined Sistas ad agency. Later, he worked for Hindustan Thomson.

During the late sixties and early seventies, armed with a boarding school education from Ooty and awakened by an amazing bohemian experience gained "chasing the wind" during his college days at MCC in Madras, the young Prathap went about shedding his shy schoolboy skin and embracing a culture of theatre and art.

Film career
Pratap acted with The Madras Players. The late director Bharathan enjoyed Pratap's performance in Shaw's play Androcles and the Lion, and invited him to act in his Malayalam film Aaravam. Pratap acted in critically acclaimed films such as Thakara and Chamaram. Chamaram dealt with the tumultuous affair between a student and his college lecturer.

Films such as Nenjathai Killathe, Panneer Pushpangal, Moodupani and Varumayin Niram Sivappu made Pratap famous in Tamil also.

After a few years break from Malayalam movies, Pratap made his comeback in 2012 by acting in 22 Female Kottayam in a negative role. The film made him more popular in Mollywood. It was the comeback of Pratap Pothen and he acted in several more movies including the super hit Ayallum Njanum Thammil, 3 Dots, Idukki Gold and Arikil Oraal.

Film director
Pratap directed in Tamil, Malayalam & Telugu.

Notable Filmography:

In Malayalam:


 * Rithubhedam (1987), which tells of the agony of an illegitimate child.
 * Daisy (1998), which sent a romantic wave throughout Kerala.
 * Oru Yathramozhi, which was about a son in search of his unknown father.

In Tamil: Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai (1985), Jeeva (1988) Vetri Vizha (1989), My Dear Marthandan (1990), Athma (1993), Magudam (1992),Seevalaperi Pandi (1994) & Lucky Man (1995).

He also directed a Telugu film – Chaitanya (1991).

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.

Recent projects
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. Now Pratap Pothen is active as an actor.

Awards and nominations

 * National Film Award - Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director - Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai
 * 2014 Kerala State Film Award (Special Jury Award)
 * 2013 Filmfare Awards South- Best Supporting Actor- Nominated (Ayalum Njanum Thammil)
 * 1979 Filmfare Awards South- Best Actor-Tamil - Nominated (Azhiyatha Kolangal)
 * 1979 Filmfare Awards South - Best Actor- Winner - Malayalam -Thakara
 * 1980 Filmfare Awards South- Best Actor-Tamil - Nominated (Nenjathai Killathe)
 * 1980 Filmfare Awards South - Best Actor- Winner - Malayalam -Chamaram
 * 35th Filmfare Awards South - Best Director- Winner - Malayalam -Rithubhedam

Personal life
Pratap was married twice. His first marriage was with leading actress Raadhika in 1985 and subsequently they divorced in 1986. His second marriage was with Amala Satyanath in 1990, a senior corporate professional and they have a daughter Keya born in 1991.

As writer

 * Solla Thudikuthu Manasu

Television

 * Naalaya Iyakkunar (Kalaignar TV)