Vijayakant, who emerged as a shining star in the galaxy of Kollywood, passed away at the age of 71 after battling illness for a prolonged period. He was not only a popular actor in Tamil Nadu, but also made significant contributions to the state’s politics. Known for his grounded approach, Vijayakant garnered a massive fan base and earned the nicknames ‘Karuppu MGR’ and ‘Puratchi Kalaignar’. He started his own political party, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and served as the leader of opposition. He was a philanthropist and organized fundraising events to support the South Indian Artistes Association. Vijayakant’s funeral will be held in Chennai with full state honours.
Born as Vijayaraj in Madurai, Vijayakant rose to fame in the Tamil film industry alongside Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. He received several awards for his performances and acted in lead roles in 18 films in 1984, a record in the Tamil film industry at that time. He starred in commercial blockbusters like ‘Sattam Oru Iruttarai’ and ‘Vaidegi Kathirunthal’. Throughout his career, he was loved by fans for his relatable and genuine persona.
In 2005, Vijayakant entered politics and formed the DMDK. In 2006, the party contested the elections alone and secured one seat, with Vijayakant winning. Later, they aligned with AIADMK and won 29 out of 41 seats in the 2011 elections. This made Vijayakant the leader of opposition and pushed DMK to the third position. He further joined the NDA alliance in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and campaigned for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This strengthened his connection with Modi, who praised his campaigning efforts. In the 2016 assembly election, Vijayakant projected himself as the chief ministerial candidate but was unable to secure a victory. His wife, Premalatha, took over as the general secretary of DMDK.
Vijayakant’s demise has led to an outpouring of grief from his supporters and various political leaders. Chief minister M K Stalin visited his residence to pay his respects and announced that Vijayakant would be laid to rest with full state honours. Thousands of people are expected to attend his funeral procession, which will be held in Chennai on Friday.
