Popular Malayalam actor and filmmaker Prathap Pothen passed away in Chennai on Friday, 15 July, morning, as per a report by Onmanorama. He was 69. The actor was found dead in his Chennai apartment.
As per the latest reports, Pothen died following a cardiac arrest. The director "passed away in his sleep", after cardiac arrest his wife Amala Pothen told PTI. Pothen is survived by his wife and daughter.
Several people from the industry paid tribute to the late Pothen, including Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who expressed his sorrow over the director's unfortunate death.
Prathap made his debut with director Bharatan's 1978 movie Aaravam. He was known for his distinctive dialogue delivery and had worked with several prominent actors, including Kamal Haasan in K Balachander's hit film Varumaiyan Niram Sivappu. He has also appeared in more than 100 Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu movies, in addition to a few blockbusters like Vetri Vizha, that he directed.
Some of his popular Malayalam movies include Thakaram, Aarohanam, Panneer Pushpangal and Thanmathra.
He has directed 12 films in Malayalam and Tamil. His debut directorial Meendum Oru Kathal Kathai won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director. Some of his other notable works are Rithubhedam, Daisy and Oru Yathramozhi.
He was also a judge in a Tamil reality show called Naalaya Iyakkunar. The show looks for new directors and has played a key role in introducing talents like Karthik Subbaraj, Vijay Sethupathi, Alphonse Puthren and others to Kollywood.
Pratap was last seen in CBI 5: The Brain and has acted in the upcoming Mohanlal directorial Barroz: Guardian of D'Gama's Treasure. In Tamil, he appeared in the courtroom drama, Jyotika starrer Ponmagal Vandhal backed by 2D Entertainment. He also featured in a cameo appearance in Parthiban and Vijay Sethupathi-led Tughlaq Darbar.