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Pratap Pothen Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth13 August 1952

Age69 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceTrivandrum, Kerala

ProfessionActor, Filmmaker, Scriptwriter, Producer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseRaadhika Sarathkumar (m.1985–1986), Amala Satyanath (m.1990–2012)

FamilyDaughter - Keya; Father - Kolathinkal Pothan; Siblings - Hari Pothen, Mohan Pothen, Devi Pothen

Pratap Pothen Biography

Pratap Pothen was an Indian actor, director, writer and producer who worked across South Indian cinema. Born in Trivandrum and educated in Chennai, he hada

Early life and background

Pratap Pothen was born on 13 August 1952 in Trivandrum, Kerala. He grew up in the region and later attended The Lawrence School, Lovedale for his schooling. He completed a BA in Economics from Madras Christian College in Chennai in 1972.

During his college years he developed an interest in theatre and became active with stage productions. That foundation in performance and writing helped shape the multi-faceted career he would pursue in film and advertising.

Career

Pothen began his professional life working in advertising as a copywriter in Mumbai, and later for other agencies including Sistas and Hindustan Thompson. He went on to found his own ad agency, Green Apple, through which he directed television commercials for brands such as MRF Tyres and Nippo.

His entry into cinema came after being noticed by filmmaker Bharathan during a theatre performance. He made his acting debut in Malayalam cinema with Aaravam (1978). Over the following decades he appeared in more than a hundred South Indian films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

Notable early acting credits include the Malayalam films Thakara (1979) and Chamaram (1980). He established a parallel career in Tamil cinema with roles in films such as Azhiyadha Kolangal (1979) and several titles through the 1980s and beyond. His Telugu appearances included Kanchana Ganga and Justice Chakravarthy in the mid-1980s, and he continued taking roles in multiple languages into the 2010s and 2020s.

In addition to acting, Pothen moved behind the camera as a director and writer. His directorial debut in Tamil came with Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai (1985), and he directed Rithubhedam in Malayalam (1987). He also wrote and directed projects through the late 1980s and 1990s, including contributions on films such as Jeeva (1988), My Dear Marthandan (1990), Magudam (1992), Seevalaperi Pandi (1994) and Lucky Man (1995).

Awards and recognition

Across his career Pothen received industry recognition for both acting and filmmaking. Early honors included the Filmfare Award South for Best Actor (Malayalam) in 1979 for Thakara. He won the National Film Award for Best Debut Film of a Director for Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai in 1984 and later received Filmfare South recognition as Best Director (Malayalam) for Rithubhedam in 1987. In the 2010s he earned awards and jury mentions for his acting in Malayalam films, including a South Indian International Movie Award in 2012, a Vanitha Film Award the same year, an Asianet special jury mention in 2013, and a Kerala State Film Award special jury award in 2014.

Public profile

Pothen was known for his versatility: acting across genres and languages, directing films and commercials, and writing screenplays. He maintained a public presence through his film work and advertising projects and was recognized among peers for his contributions to fast-paced and character-driven cinema.

Personal life

He was married twice. His first marriage, to actress and producer Raadhika Sarathkumar, took place in 1985 and ended in divorce in 1986. He married a second time in 1990 to Amala Satyanath, who worked as a general manager with the Tata group in Mumbai; that marriage ended in 2012. He had one daughter, Keya, from his second marriage.

Pothen’s family background included his father, Kolathinkal Pothan, who was a businessman, and several siblings. Among his elder brothers were Hari Pothen, a film producer, and Mohan Pothen; he also had a sister named Devi Pothen.

He was described as an agnostic, and his personal interests included painting during his school days, theatre in college, and a fondness for animals; he kept a pet dog. He spent time in Chennai for much of his adult life.

Later life and death

Pratap Pothen continued to act in films across the decades, with credits that extend into the 2010s and 2020s. On 15 July 2022 he passed away at his apartment in Kilpauk, Chennai. He was 69 years old and died in his sleep.

Latest updates

At the time of his death he was remembered by colleagues in the film industry for his body of work as both an actor and director. His filmography includes roles and creative credits across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema, and his contributions to advertising through Green Apple added another dimension to his professional legacy.
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Recent Work

Forensic

Malayalam film appearance

2020
Kamali From Nadukkaveri

Tamil film appearance

2021
Veedevadu

Telugu film appearance

2017
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Career Highlights

  1. Made acting debut in Malayalam film Aaravam (1978)
  2. Won Filmfare Award South for Best Actor (Malayalam) for Thakara (1979)
  3. Won National Film Award for Best Debut Film of a Director for Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai (1984)
  4. Directed Malayalam film Rithubhedam (1987) and received Filmfare South Best Director (Malayalam)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Pratap Pothen born?

13 August 1952

What is Pratap Pothen known for?

Actor, Filmmaker, Scriptwriter, Producer

What is Pratap Pothen’s marital status?

Divorced

Who is Pratap Pothen married to?

Raadhika Sarathkumar (m.1985–1986), Amala Satyanath (m.1990–2012)