Here is the biography of Pratap Pothen:
Born in 1952 in Thiruvananthapuram, Pratap Pothen was raised in a well-to-do business family. At the age of five, he was sent to a boarding school in Ooty, where he discovered his passion for painting. He later moved to Madras Christian College, where he developed an interest in acting and began performing in plays.
After completing his BA in economics, Pratap worked as a copywriter in an advertising agency in Mumbai. He then joined Sistas ad agency and later worked at Hindustan Thomson. During this time, he also acted with the Madras Players and was noticed by director Bharathan, who cast him in his Malayalam film 'Aaravam'.
Pratap went on to act in several films, including 'Thakara', 'Chamaram', and 'Lorry', which are considered milestones in Malayalam film history. He also acted in Tamil films like 'Nenjathai Killathe' and 'Panneerpushpangal', which made him a household name in Tamil cinema. His most memorable role was probably in 'Varumayin Niram Sivappu', directed by K Balachandar.
Pratap began directing films, and his first film 'Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai' won the national award. He also directed several Malayalam and Telugu films, including 'Rithubetham', 'Daisy', 'Oru Yatra Mozhi', and 'Chaithanya'.
In the last two years, Pratap has been dealing with personal struggles, including property disputes, death threats, and a serious illness. Despite these challenges, he has said that he has come back from his deathbed and has been traveling around the world, living with a nephew in Europe and crediting the internet with opening up new opportunities for him.
Throughout his career, Pratap has been known for his subtlety as an actor and director, and has been praised for his ability to adapt to changing trends in the film industry. His collaboration with Kamal Hassan in 'Vetri Vizha' was a notable example of his willingness to experiment and innovate, as it featured the use of steady cam for the first time in a Tamil film.
