77 Facts About Vijayakanth

Vijayaraj Alagarswami, known by his stage name Vijayakanth, was an Indian actor, filmmaker, philanthropist and politician.

Vijayakanth worked in Tamil cinema in a career spanning four decades.

Vijayakanth ventured into politics in the later part of his career and founded his own party Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.

Vijayakanth was nicknamed "Captain" following his role in the film Captain Prabhakaran.

Vijayakanth was credited as "Puratchi Kalaignar" in the film titles as he often appeared in roles as a law enforcer, vigilante, or a village head.

Vijayakanth won two Filmfare Awards South, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and was awarded the Kalaimamani title in 2001.

Vijayakanth served as the president of the Nadigar Sangam from 2000 to 2006.

Vijayakanth is credited with bringing the association out of debt and establishing a charitable trust that paid pension to low-income members of the film industry.

Vijayakanth was likened to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M G Ramachandran for his humanitarian work and for his role in supporting impoverished personnel from the Tamil film industry.

Vijayakanth accepted deferred remuneration for certain films to help struggling film producers and preached for food equality on film sets, demanding that all the crew members must be given the same quality meals that he was served.

Vijayakanth led his party to win the second-most seats in the 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election and served as the leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016.

Vijayakanth remained as the leader of his party until his death in 2023.

Vijayakanth was known for his "open and bold stance" during his political career.

Vijayakanth was born as Vijayaraj Alagarswami in Madurai on 25 August 1952.

Vijayakanth grew up idolising M G Ramachandran and displayed passion towards community and societal issues.

Vijayakanth's father ran a rice mill at Keeraithurai where Vijayakanth went on to work and surprised him with his administrative skills.

Vijayakanth married Premalatha on 31 January 1990 and had two sons.

In 1978, Vijayakanth engaged in a photo shoot in Rasi Studios in Madurai with the aim of acting in films, which helped him garner attention.

Vijayakanth later gave credit to the chief photographer R Asaithambi, indicating that the photographs eventually helped him earn a spot in the film industry.

Vijayakanth traveled to Chennai to pursue his passion in acting, even though he did not have any cinematic background.

Vijayakanth was cast in a supporting role as Rajnikanth's younger brother in En Kelvikku Enna Bathil by the director P Madhavan, for which he received an advance of 100.

Vijayakanth claimed to have lost several film opportunities during the early stages of his acting career largely due to his darker complexion.

In 1979, Vijayakanth made his first film appearance in M A Kaja's Inikkum Ilamai, when he was first credited with his screen name "Vijayakanth".

Vijayakanth became a popular commercial hero after his role in Sattam Oru Iruttarai, directed by S A Chandrasekhar, with whom he collaborated in numerous films thereafter.

Vijayakanth played the villain in Om Shakti, which was his last antagonist part in a film.

Vijayakanth became lead actor to appear in the most films in 1984.

Vijayakanth acted in Annai Bhoomi, the first 3D film made in the Tamil film industry, alongside Radha Ravi and Tiger Prabhakar.

Vijayakanth co-starred with Vishnuvardhan in Eetti and acted in the commercially successful romantic comedy Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri.

Vijayakanth was given the epithet "Puratchi Kalaigner" by film's producer Kalaipuli S Thanu after his performance in Cooliekkaran.

On 21 October 1987, Vijayakanth had two theatrical releases as both Uzhavan Magan and Sattam Oru Vilayaattu, both of which were commercially successful.

Vijayakanth won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Senthoora Poove.

Vijayakanth was best known for low-budget films that often featured gravity-defying stunts in which he would single-handedly dispatch his enemies.

Rowther produced many of his films and played an instrumental role in Vijayakanth's rise as an actor in the early 1990s.

Rowther and Vijayakanth combined for many of the films including Pulan Visaranai, Captain Prabhakaran, Bharathan, Rajadurai, Sakkarai Devan, En Aasai Machan, Gandhi Pirantha Mann, Karuppu Nila, Ulavuthurai, Dharma and Simmasanam.

Vijayakanth later starred as an honest cop in the hit flick Sathriyan, produced by Mani Ratnam.

Vijayakanth got the sobriquet "captain" after the success of the film.

Vijayakanth acted in the movies Maanagara Kaaval and Moondrezhuthil En Moochirukkum in the same year.

Vijayakanth later appeared in films such as Koyil Kaalai, Ezhai Jaathi, Sakkarai Devan, Rajadurai and Enga Muthalali.

Vijayakanth co-starred with Vijay in Senthoorapandi, where he plays the role of elder brother.

Vijayakanth played an extended cameo role in this film for which he did not take any remuneration.

Vijayakanth won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his performance in the action film Thayagam.

Vijayakanth acted in his 125th film Ulavuthurai in 1998, followed by Dharma and Veeram Vilanja Mannu in the same year.

Vijayakanth later starred in R B Choudary's production, Kannupada Poguthaiya.

In 2000, Vijayakanth played a dual role in Vaanathai Pola, a rural family drama directed by Vikraman, which won two awards; a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film of the year and National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

Vijayakanth's acting in Vallarasu received widespread attention, in which he played a cop who took on a terrorist group.

Vijayakanth played three different roles in his next movie Simmasanam.

Vijayakanth acted in action films Vaanchinathan directed by Shaji Kailas and Narasimha.

Vijayakanth made a cameo appearance in Viswanathan Ramamoorthy and appeared in a dual role in the village drama Thavasi.

Vijayakanth collaborated with director AR Murugadoss in Ramanaa, in which he underplayed an action hero and anti-corruption crusader.

Vijayakanth acted in the drama Mariyadhai, in his second colloboration with director Vikraman, followed by the action film Engal Aasan, in which he co-starred with Vikranth.

In 2010, Vijayakanth acted and directed the film, Virudhagiri, a remake of the French film Taken.

On 14 September 2005, Vijayakanth announced the formation of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, a regional political party at Madurai.

Vijayakanth's party contested in all the 234 seats in As per the results, the party secured higher number of votes than the winning margins of candidates in about 25 constituencies.

Vijayakanth led the party's campaign for the elections despite opposition from other party leaders such as S Ramadoss, the founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi, who expressed his dissatisfaction with people from the film industry entering politics.

Vijayakanth's party contested 14 seats but did not win a single seat.

In February 2016, Vijayakanth lost his position as the Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly after ten of his party MLAs resigned from the assembly.

Vijayakanth was criticised for making obscene gestures in public, often towards journalists.

Vijayakanth lost the election from Ulundurpet to R Kumaraguru of the AIADMK and his party-led alliance failed to win any seats in the assembly.

Vijayakanth continued to serve as the general secretary of DMDK till his death in December 2023.

Vijayakanth was often known for his "open and bold stance" during his political career.

Vijayakanth was involved in philanthropic work and offered food and meals through his office.

Vijayakanth had assisted several actors by offering consultancy and required financial help.

In 2000, Vijayakanth was elected as the president of South Indian Film Artistes' Association and served till 2006.

Vijayakanth is credited with bringing the association out of debt.

Vijayakanth led the establishment of a charitable trust that paid pension to low-income members of the film industry.

In 2001, Vijayakanth founded Shri Andal Alagar College of Engineering.

Vijayakanth launched a television channel Captain TV on 14 April 2010.

Vijayakanth later launched a news channel Captain News on 29 August 2012.

Since mid-2010s, Vijayakanth faced health issues, as his speech slurred and he was unsteady during some political rallies and speeches.

On 28 December 2023, Vijayakanth died at the age of 71.

Vijayakanth's death was condoled by various political leaders, and members of the film industry.

Vijayakanth's body was kept in state at his residence in Saligramam, later at the Island Grounds for the public to pay their tributes.

Vijayakanth was buried with state honours in a sandalwood casket in the premises of the headquarters of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam in Koyambedu.

Vijayakanth won two Filmfare Awards South, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and was awarded the Kalaimamani title in 2001.

Vijayakanth was credited as "Puratchi Kalaignar" and "Captain" in the film titles as he often appeared in roles as a law enforcer, vigilante, or a village head.

In 2014, an ex-serviceman lodged a complaint against Vijayakanth at the Madras High Court for using the title "captain", arguing that the term is attached to the Indian Army, is an insult to servicemen and is illegal for common people to use it.

Vijayakanth was listed amongst the top 20 best Tamil actors of all time by Cinemaholic in 2022.