Actor-filmmaker Prathap Pothen dies aged 69

Well-known actor-filmmaker Prathap Pothen died in Chennai on Friday. As per reports, the 69-year-old was found dead in his apartment in Kilpauk, Chennai. In a career spanning over three decades, he had acted in over 100 films across multiple languages and directed a few too. 

As per a report by the newspaper The Hindu, the initial investigation revealed that he had died of natural causes.

Prathap made his acting debut in the 1978 Malayalam film Aaravam with director Bharathan. For the next few years, he went on to work in many Malayalam films such as Thakara (1979), Lorry (1980) and Chamaram (1980). 

In the 1980s, Prathap forayed into Tamil cinema and gained popularity after appearing in Moodupani (1980), Varumayin Niram Sivappu (1980) and Panneer Pushpangal (1981). Throughout the 1980s, he was actively involved in Tamil cinema. 

He made his directorial debut with the 1985 Tamil film Meendum Oru Kaadhal Kadhai, which is about a mentally unstable couple, and won the National award. His other popular directorials include Jeeva (1988), Vetri Vizha (1989) and Lucky Man (1995). 

It was with his film Vetri Vizha, which starred Kamal Haasan, that the Steadicam was first introduced to Tamil cinema.

Prathap directed 12 films in total, including the Malayalam features Ritubhedam (1987), Daisy (1988) and Oru Yathramozhi (1997). 

He was recently seen in the films Tughlaq Durbar (2021) and CBI 5: The Brain (2022). 

He is survived by his daughter Keya Pothen. 

Several celebrities took to Twitter to pay their tributes to Prathap. 

Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran tweeted, “Rest in peace uncle. I will miss you (sic). “

Actress Parvathy wrote, “Prathap Pothen sir.. Why? Thank you for being my friend, well-wisher who always wanted me to succeed. Will miss you forever. Rest in peace (sic).”