Legend who left an indelible mark: Tributes pour in for Vijayakanth

Chennai Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam( DMDK) author and popular  yore Tamil actor Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami, popularly known as Vijayakanth, who raised his voice against corruption on the big screen before taking the political plunge, passed down after a prolonged illness on Thursday. He was 71.  In a statement, MIOT International Hospital said Vijayakanth was admitted for pneumonia on December 26.

 “ Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the stylish  sweats of the medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023, ” the sanitarium said.  The DMDK said the actor- turned- politician had also tested positive for Covid- 19.   Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin were among a string of leaders to condole the death.  

 Popularly known as ‘ Captain ’ after he performed the  part of an IFS officer in the 1991 blockbuster Tamil movie ‘ Captain Prabhakaran ’, Vijayakanth wasn't  by good health since 2016, leading him to stay down from party affairs. He was last spotted at the DMDK’s general council meeting on December 14, when his  woman V Premalatha, was  tagged as party chief.  In a post on X, Modi said “ Extremely  burdened by the passing down of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his  attractive performances captured the hearts of millions. 

As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a  continuing impact on Tamil Nadu’s political  geography. His  end leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my  relations with him over the times. In this sad hour, my  studies are with his family,  suckers and  multitudinous followers. Om Shanti. ”   As Vijayakanth’s mortal remains were brought to his  hearthstone, Stalin, along with his  press associates, arrived to pay their  paeans. Stalin described him as a cherished friend who gauged  the heights of cinema and shone in public life through his  devoted work. 

“ His death is a loss to Tamil Nadu and the film world, ” he wrote onX.   Stalin also  blazoned full state honours for Vijayakanth’s burial.   masses of people and party  sympathizers  flocked the DMDK’s headquarters after Vijayakanth’s body was shifted from his  hearthstone in a procession. The DMDK said the last  solemnities would be conducted at4.45 pm on Friday on the demesne of the party headquarters and party flags would fly at half mast for 15 days.   Born on August 25, 1952 in Madurai and despite hailing from the Telugu- speaking Naidu community, Vijayakanth was hailed by the Tamil film world and  suckers  likewise for over two decades( since the 1980s) as the ‘ macho actor ’ and real life  rescuer. 

His spirited fight against graft in the movie ‘ Ramana ’ struck a  passion with the electorate during his  original times in politics.   He earned the  surname ‘ Captain ’ after his hundredth film ‘ Captain Prabhakaran ’ and also the title ‘ Puratchi Kalaignar ’.   “ He truly had all the  rates of a Captain to lead, ” said fellow actor and now BJP member S V Sekar. “ Anyone could visit his office for food at any time. At least 200- 250 people ate in his office everyday, ” Sekar said.   When Vijayakanth was the head of the Nadigar Sangam( actors ’ association), he repaid all debts, Sekar added. 

  Vijayakanth made his  incursion into politics in 2005 by floating the DMDK, to take on  also heavyweights M Karunanidhi( of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or DMK) and J Jayalalithaa( of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK). While the DMDK  queried 24 out of 234 assembly seats during the  choices a time  latterly, Vijayakanth was the lone winner.   During the 2011  choices, the DMDK  confederated with the AIADMK and the former won 29 of the 41 seats it  queried,  getting the second largest party after the AIADMK. 

The Jayalalithaa- led bloc won the  pates and the DMDK author went on to come the leader of opposition( 2011- 16). In 2012, Vijayakanth and  also  principal minister Jayalalithaa battered inside the legislative assembly expressing  remorse over aligning with each other to win the election that concluded the  former time. the eventual fallout led them to  resolve.   For the 2016  pates, the actor- turned- politician joined hands with the Left and  lower parties but drew a blank. In 2019, the DMDK joined the National Democratic Alliance for the Lok Sabha  choices but parted ways during the 2021 assembly  pates over  dissensions  in seat sharing. 

 “ Everyone allowed that Vijayakanth was the only bone who could challenge the supremacy of Amma( Jayalalithaa) and Kalaignar( Karunanidhi) but the party lost track, ” a former DMDK leader, who's now in the AIADMK, said, seeking  obscurity.   Vijayakanth also served as an MLA for two terms, from Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies.   Like the DMK and AIADMK, Vijayakanth also  innovated a  TV channel named “ Captain TV ”. 

He also  innovated the Andal Alagar Engineering College, in Chennai, which he offered to the state to be used as a sanitarium during the Covid- 19 epidemic.   AIADMK general clerk Edappadi K Palaniswami and  elderly party leaders paid  flowery  paeans at the DMDK headquarters. Describing Vijayakanth as a ‘ dear family ’, the former chief minister said the DMDK author won laurels both as a leader and as an actor in the world of cinema.   Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam  chairman Kamal Haasan said on X “ The news of the death of my cherished family Vijayakanth, the author of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazgam, a unique actor and captain of Tamil cinema, who was loved by all, is deeply depressing. 

He was the creator of innovative ideas in Tamilnadu politics. ”  Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock and grief over Vijayakanth’s demise. The  principal minister conveyed his condolences to Vijayakanth’s bereft family members,  suckers and DMDK party workers, said an  sanctioned statement.   Vijayakanth is survived by his  woman Premalatha, and two sons, Vijaya Prabhakaran and Shanmuga Pandian. 

#news #political_geography #india #news_2023 #taaza_khabar