2025 Jun 11, 00:12
Tamil cinema actor and DMDK founder-leader Vijayakant, who had been on ventilator support for pneumonia, passed away on Thursday morning at a private hospital at the age of 71. He is survived by his wife Premalatha and sons Shanmuga Pandian and Vijaya Prabhakaran. The news of his demise came after it was announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and was on ventilator support. Vijayakant had been admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, but his health had been a concern for a while, with multiple hospitalizations in recent years. Vijayakant, born as Vijayaraj in Madurai, rose to fame in the Tamil film industry alongside Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan
He was known for his down-to-earth demeanor, earning him the titles 'Karuppu MGR' and 'Puratchi Kalaignar' from his fans. Nicknamed 'Captain' by his supporters, he gained popularity with his 100th hit movie 'Captain Prabhakaran'. Vijayakant's talent and versatility earned him numerous awards, including the Filmfare award for 'Amman Kovil Kizhakale' in 1986 and the Tamil Nadu government's award for 'Senthoora Poove' in 1988. Having acted in lead roles in 18 films in 1984, Vijayakant made history in the Tamil film industry. His films like 'Sattam Oru Iruttarai,' 'Vaidegi Kathirunthal,' 'Amman Kovil Kizhakale,' 'Oomai Vizhigal,' and 'Cooliekkaran' were massive hits, and 'Sattam Oru Iruttarai' was remade in multiple languages
Apart from his acting career, Vijayakant also made contributions in the political arena. He turned his fan clubs into the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and took part in philanthropic activities. In the 2011 elections, he aligned with Jayalalithaa's AIADMK and won 29 out of 40 seats, becoming the leader of opposition. He campaigned extensively for Narendra Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, further strengthening his political connections
Vijayakant also joined the People’s Welfare Front and positioned himself as the chief ministerial candidate in the 2016 assembly elections. Vijayakant's last public appearance was at the DMDK general council meeting in December 2021, where his wife Premalatha was unanimously chosen as the general secretary. The DMDK is a recognized political party by the election commission in Tamil Nadu. Vijayakant's death marks the end of an era in Tamil cinema and political landscape, as he leaves behind a legacy of versatile acting and dedicated leadership.