Actor & DMDK founder Vijayakanth, who was diagnosed with Covid, passes away at 71

CHENNAI: One of Tamil cinema’s popular actors and DMDK founder-leader Vijayakant, who was on ventilator support for pneumonia, died on Thursday morning in a private hospital. He was 71 and is survived by his wife Premalatha and sons Shanmuga Pandian and Vijaya Prabhakaran.
Early on Thursday, the party headquarters had announced that he tested positive for Covid-19 and has been on ventilator support.He was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday. He has been in and out of hospital for prolonged illness. In 2017, he travelled to the US (where he had undergone organ transplant) for medical treatment. In June 2022, his toes were amputated following prolonged diabetes.

Born to Alargarswami and Aandal as Vijayaraj in Madurai, Vijayakant rose to prominence in the Tamil film industry alongside stars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. His down-to-earth persona won the admiration of a multitude of fans, who bestowed on him the monikers ‘Karuppu MGR’ and ‘Puratchi Kalaignar’. Supporters fondly addressed him as ‘Captain’ after his 100th hit flick ‘Captain Prabhakaran’.

The actor effortlessly portrayed the revolutionary young man with finesse. He won several awards, including the Filmfare award for ‘Amman Kovil Kizhakale’ in 1986 and Tamil Nadu government’s award for ‘Senthoora Poove’ in 1988. He scripted history by becoming the only actor in Tamil film industry, having acted in lead roles in 18 films in 1984.
The commercial blockbuster ‘Sattam Oru Iruttarai’ was remade in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. ‘Vaidegi Kathirunthal,’ ‘Amman Kovil Kizhakale,’ ‘Oomai Vizhigal,’ ‘Cooliekkaran,’ ‘Uzhavan Magan,’ ‘Poonthootta Kavalkaaran,’ ‘Senthoora Poove’ were some of Vijayakant’s several hit films in a career that spanned over three decades.
In his presidency, Vijayakant organized fundraising events abroad to settle the mounting debts of the prestigious South Indian Artistes Association, which was once helmed by late chief minister M G Ramachandran.
Popular for his philanthropic activities, Vijayakant took the electoral plunge in 2005, turning his fan clubs into Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam. His DMDK saw a meteoric rise in electoral politics after Vijayakant aligned with Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK in 2011. The actor won 29 seats out of 40 seats. Vijayakant himself contested and became the leader of opposition, pushing the principal Dravidian major, the DMK to the third position.
As an NDA ally in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Vijayakant campaigned extensively for PM candidate Narendra Modi, which eventually brought him closer to the national leader. Modi, while speaking at the Parliamentary Party meeting soon after his election, hailed the DMDK leader’s electioneering throughout the state. “He is my good friend,” Modi said.
Vijayakant joined hands with the four-party alliance People’s Welfare Front, and projected himself as the chief ministerial candidate in the 2016 assembly election. He was last seen at a public event at the DMDK general council meeting held on December 13 in Thiruverkadu near Chennai. He emerged in a wheelchair with the support of aides and remained in the hall for close to half an hour when the council unanimously anointed his wife and DMDK treasurer Premalatha as the general secretary of the DMDK. The DMDK is one of the recognized parties of the election commission in Tamil Nadu.
PM Modi condoles demise of DMDK chief
“Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions,” PM Modi posted from his official handle on X.
Watch Chennai: DMDK chief, actor Vijayakanth succumbs to Covid