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DMDK Founder and Actor Vijayakanth is No More: Know His Film Journey and Political Career

7 months ago
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captain vijayakanth

This morning, on December 28, Vijayakanth, who was both an actor and a politician, passed away due to pneumonia and lung infection. He was an exceptional actor and a tough politician and made significant contributions to the Tamil film industry. He was 71 years old. A lot of people in Tamil Nadu loved him as an actor and leader. His death is a shock to the Tamil people. Here is a list of his many successful jobs.

Vijayakanth’s Personal Life

Vijayakanth was born on August 25, 1952, to his parents, KN Alagarswami and Aandal Azhagarswami, with the birth name Vijayaraj Alagarswami. He is survived by his wife Premalatha and two sons, Vijaya Prabhakaran and Shanmuga Pandian.

He hails from Madurai and primarily performs in Tamil cinema. The films he made were translated into Telugu and Hindi became big hits. He was bestowed with the title ‘Puratchi Kalingar’, which translates as ‘revolutionary artist’. Throughout his career, he gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of characters who exemplified patriotism in movies. Vijayakanth was renowned as a very committed performer in Tamil films and regarded as an exceptional human being. He consistently assisted anyone who sought aid at his doorstep.

Film Journey of Captain

In 1979, he debuted in the film industry with MA Kaja’s ‘Inikkum Ilamai’ and achieved success two years later with SA Chandrasekhar’s ‘Sattam Oru Iruttarai’. He portrayed the role of a dedicated police officer in numerous films. Following his portrayal of the main character in Captain Prabhakaran, which marked his 100th film, he was bestowed the title ‘Captain’.

Some of his popular films include ‘Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri, Ramanaa, Oomai Vizhigal, Amman Koil Kizhakkaalae, Vaanathaippola, Narasimha and Thavasi and Captain Prabhakaran.’

Prior to entering politics, he appeared in 154 films. After he ventured into politics in 2005, he paid less attention to his film career. Vijayakanth implemented groundbreaking reforms in the South Indian cinema industry during his tenure at Nadigar Sangam, also known as the South Indian Artistes’ Association (SIAA).

DMDK: Vijayakanth’s Political Career

In 2005, he established the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazgam (DMDK). In 2006, the DMDK contested in all assembly seats and received a meagre 10 per cent of the overall vote share.  Nevertheless, except for Vijayakanth, no candidates emerged as winners.

In 2011, the DMDK participated in the elections in alliance with the AIADMK and competed in 41 constituencies, emerging victorious in 26 of them. In 2011, the Captain’s party was significantly impacted by obtaining more seats than the DMK and became the main Opposition Party. Notably, Vijayakanth held the office of the leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2011 to 2016.

Subsequently, due to divergent viewpoints, the DMDK terminated its alliance with the AIADMK, leading to a substantial number of resignations from DMDK MLAs. Consequently, the party no longer had its position as the primary Opposition party. He held the position of a Member of the Legislative Assembly on two occasions, representing the Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies. The DMDK participated in the 2014 parliamentary elections as part of the NDA coalition but ended in disaster, resulting in a major decline in its vote share. During the elections of 2016, 2019, and 2021, the performance of the DMDK was hindered by Vijayakanth’s health difficulties.

Awards and Accolades in Silver Screen  

Vijayakanth received the Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award in 1994 and subsequently earned the esteemed Kalaimamani Award in 2001. In that same year, he was honoured with the prestigious Best Indian Citizen Award. He received multiple accolades for his acting prowess in Tamil cinema, including several Best Actor honours.

Tributes Pour for Captain

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “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. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, impacting Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend, and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin tweeted, “he is an exemplary human being and achieved success striving through hard work and determination. His contribution as an actor, President of Nadigar Sangam and Opposition leader is stupendous. His love for the Tamil language and special connection with Kalaignar is well-known.”  

Various actors and Politicians across the nation are expressing their condolences and tributes to the demised leader.

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