Vijayakanth is a prominent actor in the Tamil film industry and has acted in numerous movies. He is often referred to as "Captain" Vijayakanth, a title he earned due to his roles as a military officer in several films.

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Vijayakanth entered politics and founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in 2005. The party aimed to provide an alternative to the two major Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu.

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Vijayakanth became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Tamil Nadu after the 2006 state elections. His party DMDK allied with various political formations during different elections.

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In the 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, the DMDK formed an alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and Vijayakanth became the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

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Vijayakanth has been involved in various philanthropic activities. He has supported causes related to education and healthcare.

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Vijayakanth is married to Premalatha, and they have two sons – Vijay Prabhakar and Shanmuga Pandian. His son Shanmuga Pandian has also entered the film industry.