CM MK Stalin mourns the demise of Vijayakanth
On Thursday, Tamil Nadu woke up to the most unfortunate news of the demise of actor and politician Vijayakanth. The 71-year-old passed away after being diagnosed with pneumonia. While politicians and members of the film fraternity are grieving as they reel in the news, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, paid a visit to the actor's residence to pay his respects and penned a long note about the same.
On X, he wrote in Tamil, "Vijayakanth, who has a good heart, is an achiever who has made successful marks through his hard work in the film industry and in public life. As an actor, actor's union president, political party leader, legislator, and leader of the opposition, whatever task he took up, he devoted himself fully to it and supported everyone around him. He was familiar to me as a family friend. He had a distict kind of love for Kalaignar."
On Vijayakanth's camaraderie with the late political leader, actor and father of Stalin, M Karunanidhi, the CM wrote, "The times when he worked together in the arts with his friend Vijayakanth, a noble man with Tamil sensibility and a generous heart, are shadowed in my heart. The memory blooms that I participated in the song scene written by the artist in the film Makkal Aanaiyittal starring Vijayakanth in the dialogues of Muthamizharinagar Kalaignar. Friendship with him has never changed in any era and in any political environment. When my friend Vijayakanth was ill, I visited him twice and wanted him to get well soon. Nature has mercilessly taken my friend's life."
In the photos he had shared, he is seen condoling Premalatha, Vijayakanth's wife. "The demise of our dear friend Vijayakanth, fondly known as Captain by Tamil people, is a loss to Tamil Nadu and the film world. In this very sad situation, I express my condolences to Captain Vijayakanth's family, including Premalatha Vijayakanth, the volunteers of the National Progressive Dravidian Association, the film industry and fans. Condolences on behalf of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. As a tribute to Vijayakanth, his last journey will be given full state honours."
A prolific actor, who was fondly called Captain, Vijayakanth was born on August 25, 1952, and predominantly worked in Tamil films. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016 and was the president of the political party Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.
He is survived by his wife Premalatha and two sons.