Noted actor and filmmaker Pothen no more

CHENNAI: Actor-filmmaker Prathap Pothen, who built one of the busiest careers in the 80s across four decades but was forever identified by Tamil fans most closely with one of his earliest characters — a cheerful, innocent man with mental illness, Guppi — in Meedum Oru Kaathal Kathai, died on Friday. He was 69.

Police said Pothen died at his residence in Kilpauk due to natural causes. Minutes later, several members of the film fraternity, including actor Kamal Hassan and directors Santhana Bharathi and Manirathinam, visited his apartment and paid their homage. Several others posted condolences on social media with scenes and song sequences from his movies, including Moodupani, Varumanin Niram Sivappu and Nenjathai Killade.

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