'Captain' Vijayakanth, iconic Tamil actor and DMDK founder dies at 71

The founder of DMDK and popular Tamil actor, Vijayakanth, died in Chennai on Thursday after battling an illness. The party announced on its official social media handle that Vijayakanth had been hospitalized and placed on ventilator support after testing positive for Covid 19. His mortal remains were taken to his home and then to the DMDK office.

Taking to social media platform “X”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of the DMDK founder. “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, leaving a lasting impact on 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,” posted the Prime Minister.

Renowned by the moniker 'Captain,' Vijayakanth's life is characterized by a prosperous stint in the Tamil film sector. During his tenure at Nadigar Sangam, officially named the South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA), Vijayakanth introduced transformative reforms to the Southern film industry. With a filmography comprising 154 movies, he transitioned into politics after his cinematic career.

In 2005, Vijayakanth founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK). The following year, DMDK participated in elections for all assembly seats, securing a modest 10 percent of the total vote share. In 2011, the DMDK formed an alliance with the AIADMK and contested 41 constituencies, successfully winning 26 seats. This marked a historic achievement as DMDK secured more seats than the DMK in 2011, positioning itself as the primary Opposition Party. Vijayakanth served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2011 to 2016.

The subsequent election proved to be a setback for both Vijayakanth and the DMDK. In the 2016 election, the veteran leader lost the elections. The party, likewise, did not secure any victories. Despite joining forces with the BJP and AIADMK in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the DMDK could not reverse its declining fortunes.

As per reports, in recent years, Vijayakanth was keeping unwell and maintained a low public profile, while his wife, Premalatha, has taken charge of the party's operations. Earlier in November, Vijayakanth's health deteriorated and he was admitted to the MIOT Hospital in Chennai. He was under medical supervision for 14 days due to issues with cough and throat pain.

In addition to his noteworthy roles as an actor and a politician, Vijayakanth established an engineering college and launched a television channel called Captain TV.