(Image source from: Hindustantimes.com)

Vijayakanth, a renowned actor and politician affectionately referred to as Captain, passed away on December 28 at a private hospital in Chennai due to pneumonia. His demise, at the age of 71, left the people of Tamil Nadu in disbelief, as he was highly regarded both as an actor and a political figure. Let us delve into his remarkable career. Born on August 25, 1952, Vijayakanth, whose birth name was Vijayaraj Alagarswami, was the son of KN Alagarswami and Aandal Azhagarswami.

He hailed from Madurai and predominantly worked in Tamil films, which were subsequently dubbed in Telugu and Hindi. He earned the title of 'Puratchi Kalingar' (revolutionary artist) for his portrayal of patriotic characters throughout his illustrious career. Vijayakanth was celebrated as one of the most dedicated artists in the Tamil film industry and was highly regarded for his philanthropic nature. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. In 1979, he made his acting debut in MA Kaja's 'Inikkum Ilamai', and two years later, he achieved success with SA Chandrasekhar's 'Sattam Oru Iruttarai'.

He became synonymous with playing the role of a dutiful police officer in numerous films. With his 100th film, "Prabhakaran," he was bestowed the title of "Captain." During the 80s, he made a name for himself by portraying revolutionary characters. Initially, he gained immense adoration from fans for his villainous roles. However, after his film "Om Shakti" in 1982, he transitioned into the realm of commercial cinema and took on leading roles. In 1984, he achieved a remarkable feat by starring in almost 18 films, setting a record. Notably, he also appeared in the first-ever 3D film from Kollywood, titled "Annai Bhoomi 3D." Among his notable works are films like "Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri" and "Amman Kovil Kizhakkale," among others.

Gradually, he emerged as a competitor to Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in the Tamil film industry. He had the opportunity to share the screen with legendary actors such as Sivaji Ganesan. On September 14, 2005, Vijayakanth made a significant announcement in Madurai by introducing his political party, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK). Within a year, he gained prominence as a key figure in the Tamil Nadu assembly election. He secured one seat and obtained 10 percent of the vote share.