Prathap Pothen was an actor, writer, and director who primarily worked in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu & Hindi films. Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Prathap made his acting debut in 1978 in the Malayalam film Aaravam and thereafter in Tamil with Azhiyadha Kolangal in 1979. He made his directorial debut with the Tamil film Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai (1985) which won him the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director. His other Tamil hits include Jeeva (1988), Vettri Vizhaa (1989), Seevalaperi Pandi (1994), and Lucky Man (1995). He also acted with Kamal Haasan in Vettri Vizhaa (1989). He also appeared in a cameo in Kamal Haasan's silent film Pushpak in 1987 and Mani Ratnam’s Guru in 2007. He breathed his last at his residence in Kilpauk, Chennai on 15 July 2022.