Veteran actor, filmmaker Pratap Pothen passes away at 69, was part of over 100 films across four industries

Popular actor, filmmaker Pratap Pothen is no more. He breathed his last at his Kilpauk residence in Chennai earlier today (Friday), July 15. He was 69. The veteran was a renowned name across multiple industries - Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi - and acted in around 100 films. He had also directed 12 films in Malayalam and Tamil besides being a writer, producer. Some of his early Malayalam, Tamil films that gave momentum to his career were Thakara, Moodupani, Varumayin Niram Sivappu, to name a few.

He forayed into acting with the Malayalam film Aaravam, helmed by director Bharathan, that released in 1978 and also starred Nedumudi Venu, Bahadur, KPAC Lalitha, and Janardhanan. Pothen's performances for films like Thakara, Chamaram, Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai, Rithubhedam and 22 Female Kottayam earned him many laurels. As a director, some of his well-known films were Rithubhedam, Daisy, Oru Yathramozhi and Nagarjuna-starrer Chaitanya.

Born in a business family based in Thiruvananthapuram in 1952, he was the youngest of five children, did his schooling at Lawrence School, Lovedale in Ooty and took active interest in painting. He was married to actress Radhika (1985-86) and Amala Satyanath (1990-2012). Some of his last screen appearances were for Mammootty's CBI 5: The Brain, Anandhi's Kamali from Naducauvery, Vijay Sethupathi's Tughlaq Darbar and Ponmagal Vandhal (headlined by Jyothika). 

Grey, a Telugu black-and-white film that he had recently shot for, directed by Raj Madiraju, in which he plays a scientist, is set to hit theatres soon. He'll also be seen in Mohanlal's directorial Barroz: Guardian of D'Gama's Treasure.He was one of the rare actors from fraternity who had the ability to laugh at himself, was forthright, called spade a spade and left no space for any diplomacy in his conversations. 

The veteran regularly took to social media to share wacky experiences from his early years in the industry and was never afraid to voice his opinion in th need of the hour. His dialogue delivery was his major asset as a performer.