Prathap Pothen is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter and producer whose career spans close to four decades and across the Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu film industries. He made his feature film debut with Aaravam (1978), and rose to prominence as a leading man in the early 1980's courtesy of films like Thakara (1979) and Chamaram (1980). In 1984, he made his directorial debut with the Tamil romantic drama Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai, which went on to win the National Award for the Best Debut Film of a Director. He has since directed several films in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu, notably Rithubhedam (1987), My Dear Marthandan (1990), Chaitanya (1991) and Oru Yathramozhi (1995). Significant acting credits include Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Thanmathra (2005), 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Bangalore Days (2014), Munnariyippu (2014) and Sathura Adi - 3500 (2017). His 2019 release includes Kolayuthir Kaalam.