Tamil Cinema has been blessed with several top stars and one of them was Captain Vijayakanth. His real name was Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami and he was born to Vijayaraj Alagarswami in Madurai on 25th August 1952. In Tamil Cinema, he got names like Captain, Karuppu MGR, Puratchi Kalaignar(revolutionary artist). He debuted in Tamil Cinema with Inikkum Ilamai, a 1979 film, as an antagonist.
With Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam and Sattam Oru Iruttarai, he became a popular hero. In 1984, his career took a big turn for good as he starred in films like Nooravathu Naal and Vaidhegi Kaathirunthaal. Mainly, Vaidhegi Kaathirunthaal became a cult blockbuster and made Vijayakanth, a star with huge rural viewers support in Tamil Nadu. His films got huge amount of collections in B and C centres post this film.
His big films include Amman Kovil Kizhakale, Cooliekkaran, Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran, Senthoora Poove, Captain Prabhakaran and Chinna Gounder. Vijayakanth acted in 154 films in his career. In 2000’s, he entered into politics and established Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam(DMDK). Before establishing this political party in 2005, he worked as President of South Indian Artistes’ Association aka Nadigar Sangam from 2000-2006.
He served as MLA from 2006 to 2016 for constituencies Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam. He has also become Leader of Opposition from 2011-16 in Tamil Nadu Assembly. In 2016 elections, he and his political party DMDK lost badly. His health started deteriorating and he had to be admitted to hospital for several months. Vijayakanth stopped coming out in public and his wife, Premalatha Vijayakanth, started taking party and household responsibilities.
Recently, he had to be admitted into hospital for a health ailment. Major news reports and rumours have stated that he passed away but family brought him in front of media, to put an end to such rumours. WIthin few days, Vijayakanth had to be re-admitted due to Covid-19 and his body gave up. Doctors have announced that he passed away on 28th December, 2023 at the age of 71 years.
Vijayakanth is survived by his wife Premalatha Vijayakanth and sons Shanmuga Pandian, who is also an actor and Vijay Prabhakar Alagarswami, who could be successor to his political ambitions. Entire Tamil Cinema has expressed their shock and condolences to the family. Last rites of Vijayakanth will be held on 29th December at his party premises.
Several close friends and media personalities acclaim Vijayakanth as a Good Person with very helpful nature. They call him as the man who lived by his principals and tried to serve public with honesty. They also acclaim his helping nature and a personality conducive of great human qualitives. We miss Captain Vijayakanth.