Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu actor and filmmaker Pratap Pothen was found dead at his residence in Madras this morning (15th July). He was 69. He had worked in over 100 films in the three South Indian languages, besides Hindi.
Pratap won the National Award for his maiden directorial venture, Meedum Oru Kaathal Kathai (Tamil) in 1985. In the film, he played a man with a mental illness and so did his ex-wife, Radhika. The couple separated in 1986. He married Amala Sathyanath in 1990 but that marriage ended in 2012.
Pothen teamed with Kamal Haasan in Vettri Vizhaa (Tamil). He directed films like Seevalaperi Pandi and Lucky Man. Among the films he acted in are Varumain Niram Sevappu, Moodupani, Nenjathai Killade and Paneer Pushpangal. He started acting in 1978 with the Malayalam film Aaravam. Among the other Malayalam films he was seen in are Thakara, Lorry and Chamaram. His Malayalam directorial ventures include Rithubhedam, Daisy and Oru Yathramozhi. Telugu film Chaitanya was also directed by Pratap Pothen.