Pratap Pothen

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
In this Indian name, 'Pothen' is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be addressed with the given name, 'Pratap'

Pratap Pothen
Pratap Pothen.jpg
Pratap Pothen
Born (1952-08-13) 13 August 1952 (age 71)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Occupation
Years active1978 – 1995
2005 – present
Spouse(s)
ChildrenKeya Pothen (b.1991)
Parent(s)Kulathunkal Pothen Ponnamma 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.

Early life and background[edit]

His father was a well to do Businessman named Kolathinkal Pothan. His father died when he was 15 years old. He also has a elder brother whose name is Hari Pothan who has produced many movies. Prathap was put in a boarding school in Ooty at the age of 5. Initially he was interested in Painting. However, once he joined college, he started acting in plays with the help of his friends and gradually he was more interested in acting than painting. After his graduation in Madras Christian College (MCC), Prathap worked in a Mumbai ad agency as a copywriter, later he also worked at Sistas Ad Agency and 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.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Prathap married actress Raadhika in 1985. However, their marriage did not last long and they separated in 1986. He then remarried Amala Sathyanath in 1990 who was a Senior Corporate Professional. The couple have a daughter Keya born in 1991. Their marriage too ended after 22 years, in 2012.[2]

Film career[edit]

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 (1978). He has acted in many movies along with the top heroines. His family has a huge estate in Kerala and is very famous. He belongs to the elite Madras Players and has staged shows there.

Pratap made three more films with Thakara (1979), Lorry (1980) and Chamaram (1980). These are milestones in Malayalam film history.

Films like Moodupani (1980), Varumayin Niram Sivappu (1980), Nenjathai Killathe (1980), Panneer Pushpangal (1981) made Pratap famous in Tamil also. In fact, he got more chances in Tamil. His most memorable role was probably in Varumayin Niram Sivappu, directed by K. Balachander.

Pratap began to direct films. His first film Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai (1985) - a story of a mentally unwell couple - won the national award. His subtlety as an actor and a director has been his forte. In an era when loud acting and innovations were not in vogue, Prathap teamed up with Kamal Haasan in Vettri Vizhaa (1989). It was the first time that steady cam was used in a Tamil film.

Pratap directed three films in Malayalam - Rithubhedam (1987), Daisy (1988), which sent a romantic wave throughout Kerala, and Oru Yathramozhi (1997), which presented a son in search of his unknown father. He also directed a Telugu film Chaitanya (1991).

In Tamil, he has made super hits like Jeeva (1988), Vettri Vizhaa (1989), Seevalaperi Pandi (1994) and Lucky Man (1995).[3]

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.[4][5]

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.[6]

Awards[edit]

Filmography[edit]

As actor[edit]

Year Film Role Language Notes
1978 Aaravam Kokkarakko Malayalam
1979 Thakara Thakara Malayalam Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam
1979 Azhiyadha Kolangal Indumathi's husband Tamil
1980 Aarohanam Raju Malayalam
1980 Pavizha Mutthu Santhosh Malayalam
1980 Chandra Bimbam Gopi Malayalam
1980 Thaliritta Kinakkal Malayalam
1980 Ilamai Kolam Ilangovan Tamil
1980 Lorry Dasappan Malayalam
1980 Chamaram Vinod Malayalam Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam
1980 Oormakale Vida Tharu Malayalam
1980 Pappu Pappu Malayalam
1980 Moodu Pani Chandru Tamil
1980 Varumayin Niram Sivappu Prathap Tamil
1980 Nenjathai Killathe Prathap Tamil
1981 Aakali Rajyam Pratap Telugu
1981 Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo C. Kalyana Raman Tamil
1981 Madhu Malar Tamil
1981 Kudumbam Oru Kadambam Kannan Tamil
1981 Panneer Pushpangal Prem Tamil
1981 Sollathe Yarum Kettaal Tamil
1981 Nenjil Oru Mul Prathap Tamil
1981 Vaa Intha Pakkam Tamil
1981 Thillu Mullu Himself Tamil Cameo appearance
1981 Rani Tamil
1981 Panimalar Tamil
1981 Aparna Malayalam
1982 Vazhvey Maayam Prathap Tamil
1982 Amma Tamil
1982 Echchil Iravugal Tamil
1982 Oru Varisu Uruvagiradhu Tamil
1982 Sattam Sirikkiradhu Tamil
1982 Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam Anil-Raju Malayalam
1982 Idavela Malayalam
1982 Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal Tamil
1982 Nandri, Meendum Varuga Prathap Tamil
1982 Preeyasakhi Radha Malayalam
1982 Novemberinte Nashtam Das Malayalam
1983 America America Baby Malayalam
1983 Yudhakaandam Tamil
1983 Kaikeyi Malayalam
1984 Kanchana Ganga Mohan Telugu
1984 Pudhumai Penn Advocate David Tamil
1984 Justice Chakravarthy Pratap Telugu
1984 Aksharangal Malayalam
1984 Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai Guppi @ Ganapathy Tamil Also director
1985 Sindhu Bhairavi Sanjeevi Tamil
1986 Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare Josekutty Malayalam
1987 Manaivi Ready Doctor Tamil
1987 Jallikattu Tamil Guest appearance
1987 Nirabhedangal Jayadevan Malayalam
1987 Pesum Padam Tamil
1988 En Jeevan Paduthu Dr. Vijay Tamil
1988 Pushpaka Vimana Silent
1988 Penmani Aval Kanmani Parandhaman Tamil
1988 Raththa Dhanam Tamil
1988 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
2005 Raam Psychiatrist Tamil
2005 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
2009 Padikathavan Ramakrishnan Tamil
2009 Sarvam Psychiatrist Tamil Cameo appearance
2010 Aayirathil Oruvan Chandramouli Tamil
2010 Veerasekaran Tamil
2010 Maro Charitra Balu's father Telugu
2010 Pulliman Malayalam
2011 Muran Xavier Tamil
2012 22 Female Kottayam Hegde Malayalam SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role
2012 Ayalum Njanum Thammil Dr.Samuel Malayalam
2012 Suzhal Matthews Tamil
2013 Alex Pandian Radhakrishnan Tamil
2013 3 Dots Padmakumar/Pappettan Malayalam
2013 Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha Alex Paul Malayalam
2013 Up & Down - Mukalil Oralundu Edathil Govindan Nair Malayalam
2013 Arikil Oraal Sudhir Bose Malayalam
2013 Idukki Gold Micheal Malayalam
2014 London Bridge C S Nambiar Malayalam
2014 Bangalore Days Francis Malayalam
2014 Alice: A True Story Dr. Sivapanchanathan Malayalam
2014 Munnariyippu KK Malayalam
2014 Poojai Divya's Father Tamil
2014 Vegam Benny Malayalam
2015 Mariyam Mukku Father Gabriel Malayalam
2015 Appavum Veenjum Fernandez Malayalam
2015 Kanal Raghu Malayalam
2016 Remo Dr. Ravichandran Tamil
2016 Ma Chu Ka Police officer Tamil,
Malayalam
2017 Ezra Col.Nambiar Malayalam
2017 Sathura Adi 3500 Fahad Tamil
2017 Veedevadu Telugu
2017 Yaar Ivan Tamil
2019 Uyare Senior Air Traffic Controller Malayalam
2019 Kolaiyuthir Kaalam Tamil
2020 Pachamanga Malayalam
2020 Forensic Dr. Jayakumar Menon Malayalam
2020 Ponmagal Vandhal Judge Tamil
2021 Kamali From Nadukkaveri Arivudainambi Tamil
2022 Barroz: Guardian of D'Gama's Treasure Malayalam Filming

As director[edit]

Year Film Language Notes
1985 Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai Tamil Also actor
Also 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[edit]

Television[edit]

  • Naalaya Iyakkunar (Kalaignar TV)

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "The affable eccentric Prathap Pothan". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  2. ↑ https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/movie-actor/pratap-k-pothen
  3. ↑ https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/pratap-k-pothen/biography.html
  4. ↑ "Meaty role for Maddy". The Hindu. 16 March 2007. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Tamil Cinema News | Tamil Movie Reviews | Tamil Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Tamil". IndiaGlitz.com. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  6. ↑ http://nowboxoffice.com/prathap-pothen-in-green-apple-movie-by-haridas/

External links[edit]

Template:FilmfareMalayalamBestActor

Information red.svg
Scan the QR code to donate via UPI
Dear reader, We kindly request your support in maintaining the independence of Bharatpedia. As a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on small donations to sustain our operations and provide free access to reliable information to the world. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to consider donating to our cause, as it would greatly aid us in our mission. Your contribution would demonstrate the importance of reliable and trustworthy knowledge to you and the world. Thank you.

Please select an option below or scan the QR code to donate
₹150 ₹500 ₹1,000 ₹2,000 ₹5,000 ₹10,000 Other


Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/index.php?title=Pratap_Pothen&oldid=147740"