On the occasion of his birthday, we give you the best of Vijayakanth, the actor - from Nooravadhu Naal to Ramana. Read on. 
Slideshows

Happy Birthday Captain: 10 memorable performances that define the actor in Vijayakanth

Did you know that Vijayakanth has acted in more than 20 films as a police officer, the most times any actor of his time has donned the khaki in Tamil cinema.

Team CE
Vijayakanth plays the bespectacled Raj, the heroine's brother-in-law, who helps her investigate the missing case of her sister, in Manivannan's Nooravadhu Naal. The underplay works for the most part.
Captain, breaking away from his action image, plays an unkempt derelict who has an impressive singing talent, in Vaidehi Kathirunthal. The casting against type works, because of his unpretentious act.
Vijayakanth headlines the 1986 experimental crime-thriller, Oomai Vizhigal, which was made by Film Institute students. As the stern and shrewd DSP Deenathayalan, Captain is super-convincing.
'Varanum. Nee Pazhaiya Pannerselvama Varanum.' The dialogue's enough to describe Vijayakanth's performance as the ACP, who rises from the ashes, to avenge the murder of his wife. Not a single misstep.
Captain Prabhakaran - The evergreen character, elevated notches higher by Vijayakanth's screen-presence. Also, Captain's 100th outing, which made him the undisputed action-star of Tamil cinema.
Chinna Goundar, another character made unforgettable by Vijayakanth's ability to effortlessly segue into his rural characters.
The quintessential Captain action-film that brings in a wave of nostalgia for the 90s kids. Who can forget the epic bomb-diffusing 'whistle' moment that transpires on the top of a clock-tower!
Vijayakanth, as the father and son, stamps his mark in a movie that screams Vikraman in each passing frame. The scene where he witnesses his brother talk about him on-stage is melodrama, done right.
DCP Vallarasu - another landmark role in Captain's career, which has him use his brains more than his brawn. The cat-and-mouse game works largely because of the actor;s effortless portrayal of the cop
As Ramana, a professor who assembles the Anti-Corruption Force (ACF)- a citizen militia seeking to eliminate corruption through vigilante acts- Captain is just brilliant. A role, for the ages.

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