Vijayakanth, the renowned actor and politician, died on December 28, 2023, at the age of 71, succumbing to pneumonia. His demise was attributed to complications arising from COVID-19, for which he had been hospitalized and placed on ventilator support.
The unfortunate chain of events began on September 22, 2020, when Vijayakanth tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai. Initially displaying mild symptoms, he received treatment for approximately ten days, showing signs of improvement, and was subsequently discharged.
However, on October 6, 2020, Vijayakanth was readmitted to the hospital due to complications arising from COVID-19. Despite rumors suggesting deteriorating health, his political party, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), clarified that he was in good health and undergoing secondary tests. The official statement emphasized that the hospitalization was precautionary and not indicative of a critical condition.
Tragically, on December 28, 2023, the news of Vijayakanth’s demise surfaced. Earlier in the day, the DMDK had reported his admission to the hospital and placement on ventilator support due to breathing difficulties. His body was subsequently brought to his residence and was scheduled to be taken to the DMDK office.
Vijayakanth, widely known as ‘Captain,’ had a distinguished career in the Tamil film industry, featuring in 154 movies before transitioning to politics. Not only did he leave an indelible mark as a popular actor, but his contributions extended to the realm of politics, where he founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam in 2005. Vijayakanth’s legacy encompasses his pivotal role in the South Indian Artistes’ Association (Nadigar Sangam), where he brought about transformative changes, reflecting his multifaceted impact on Tamil cinema and politics.
‘Sagaptham‘ was the last released film of Vijayakanth, and he played a cameo role in his son Shanmuga Pandian’s debut film as a lead.
In the 1980s and 1990s, he was an action icon with a consistent box-office appeal. He got the sobriquet “Captain” after the 100th film, Captain Prabhakaran (1991).
