According to sources, “One of Tamil cinema’s popular actors and DMDK, founder-leader Viyajakanth, who was on ventilator support for pneumonia, died on Thursday morning in a private hospital.”
The veteran actor was 71 years old and was married to his wife Premalatha, they had two sons, Shanmuga Pandian and Vijaya Prabhakaran. The party headquarters announced that “he tested positive for Covid-19 and has been on ventilator support.”
As per reports, “He was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday. He has been in and out of hospital for prolonged illness. In 2017, he travelled to the US (where he has undergone transplant organ transplant) for medical treatment. In June 2022, his toes were amputated following diabetes.”
“Born to Alargarswami and Aandal as Vijayaraj in Madurai, Vijayakanth rose to prominence in the Tamil film industry alongside stars Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan. His down-to-earth persona won the admiration of a multitude of fans, who bestowed on him the monikers ‘Karuppu MGR’ and ‘Puratchi Kalaignar.’ Suppporters fondly addressed him as ‘Captain’ after his 100th hit flick Captain Prabhakaran.”
“The actor effortlessly portrayed the revolutionary young man with finesse. He won several awards, including the Filmfare award for ‘Amman Kovil Kizhakale’ in 1986 and Tamil Nadu government’s award for ‘Senthoora Poove’ in 1988. He scrited history by becoming the only actor in Tamil film industry, having acted in lead roles in 18 films in 1984.”
PM Modi condoles the demise of the DMDK chief from his official handle on X, saying, “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.”
