“Tamil Nadu’s ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth Passes Away After Ventilation Support, Succumbing to Health Challenges”
On Thursday, December 28, the leader of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) party, Vijayakanth, passed away at the age of 71. The DMDK announced that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and was experiencing difficulty breathing.
Vijayakanth, often referred to as ‘Captain’ due to his role in the successful 1991 film “Captain Prabhakaran,” founded the DMDK in 2005. In the 2006 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election, he was the sole winning candidate for the party.
While the DMDK gained 10% of the vote in the 2009 Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu, the party faced a decline in the early 2010s. Vijayakanth, a former actor, played a pivotal role in both the political and film world of Tamil Nadu.
His last rites are scheduled to take place at the party’s head office in Chennai tomorrow evening. Vijayakanth’s last public appearance was on December 14, where his wife, Premalatha, was elected as the party’s general secretary.
Condolences poured in from regional and national leaders, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressing the loss to Tamil Nadu and the film world. As a tribute, Vijayakanth will receive full state honors during his last journey.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his sadness over Vijayakanth’s death, acknowledging his contributions to both the Tamil film industry and politics. Vijayakanth had been admitted to the hospital last month and was discharged two weeks ago but, unfortunately, succumbed to the illness.
Deeply pained by the passing away of accomplished actor, dedicated leader, and great humanitarian Thiru. Vijayakanth. His outstanding contributions to cinema, politics, and service to society will ever be remembered. My prayers are with his family and countless followers. Om… pic.twitter.com/MpdryK4tLp
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) December 28, 2023
