Vijayakant, Actor, Politician
Actor, Politician

Vijayakant

Born 25 August 1952 · Tamil Nadu — Died 28 December 2023

Founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam political party in Tamil Nadu in 2005.

Vijayaraj Alagarswami, known by his stage name Vijayakanth, was an Indian actor, filmmaker, philanthropist and politician. He worked in Tamil cinema in a career spanning four decades. He ventured into politics in the later part of his career and founded his own party Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Vijayakant insisted on equal quality meals for all film crew members on set, advocating for food equality decades before it became a common workplace discourse.

The Story

1
In 1979, Vijayakant debuted with the Tamil film Inikkum Ilamai, marking the start of a career that would span over 150 films across four decades.
2
🌟 The 1991 film Captain Prabhakaran earned him the moniker “Captain,” a nickname that stuck with him both onscreen and in his political life.
3By 2000, as president of the Nadigar Sangam, Vijayakant eliminated the actors' association's debt and created a pension fund for low-income film workers, showcasing his administrative skills beyond acting.
4In 2005, he launched the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), a political party that, in the 2011 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, became the primary opposition by winning the second-highest number of seats, displacing the DMK.

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 2000, as Nadigar Sangam president, Vijayakant cleared the association’s debts and started a pension trust benefiting thousands of low-income film workers.

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Through the Years

3 photographs from the archives
Vijayakant gifting a golden pen to director K. Balachandar during a cultural event (1995).
Vijayakant gifting a golden pen to director K. Balachandar during a cultural event (1995).
1995
Vijayakant at the Sagaptham Audio Launch event, showcasing his political role (2015).
Vijayakant with DMDK delegation meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi (2015).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Vijayaraj Alagarswami was born in Madurai, setting roots in Tamil Nadu that shaped his future in cinema and politics.
1952
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Career
Film debut with Inikkum Ilamai
Vijayakant entered Tamil cinema with the film Inikkum Ilamai, beginning a prolific acting career.
1979
⚡
Career
Captain Prabhakaran released
This film earned him the enduring nickname “Captain,” linking his screen persona to his public identity.
1991
⚡
Career
President of Nadigar Sangam
Elected president, he cleared debts and founded a pension trust for film workers, improving industry welfare.
2000
⚡
Career
Founded DMDK political party
Launched the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, entering Tamil Nadu politics as a challenger to DMK and AIADMK.
2005
⚡
Career
DMDK becomes main opposition
DMDK won the second-highest seats in Tamil Nadu assembly elections, displacing DMK as opposition.
2011
🕊️
Death
Passed away in Chennai
Vijayakant died at MIOT Hospital after health complications, ending a unique blend of film and political careers.
2023
🏅
Award
Posthumous Padma Bhushan award
Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to art and public service.
2024
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Following the 1991 film Captain Prabhakaran, Vijayakant was widely known as “Captain,” a nickname rarely adopted so strongly by both fans and political supporters.

02 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

In politics, Vijayakant’s DMDK became the second-largest party in the Tamil Nadu assembly of 2011, breaking the decades-long dominance of two major parties.

03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Vijayakant often accepted deferred payments for films to support struggling producers, a rare practice among leading actors at the time.

No quote recorded for Vijayakant yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Captain Vijayakanth's Marvellous speech! | Ninaithale Inikkum Special Show | Sun TV
More from this archive
Captain Vijayakanth's Marvellous speech! | Ninaithale Inikkum Special Show | Sun TV
01
Captain Vijayakanth's Marvellous speech! | Ninaithale Inikkum Special Show | Sun TV
Jayalalitha Vs Vijayakanth fight in TN Assembly in 2012
02
Jayalalitha Vs Vijayakanth fight in TN Assembly in 2012
Captain Vijayakanth - Madai Thiranthu 100th Special Interview
03
Captain Vijayakanth - Madai Thiranthu 100th Special Interview
No drinking problem, says 'Captain' Vijayakanth to Prannoy Roy
04
No drinking problem, says 'Captain' Vijayakanth to Prannoy Roy
Vijayakanth : 'I am not an Opposition leader"
05
Vijayakanth : 'I am not an Opposition leader"
கலைஞர் பற்றி எம்‌ஜி‌ஆர் என்னிடம் சொன்ன ரகசியம் -விஜயகாந்த் பேட்டி | Vijayakanth exclusive interview
06
கலைஞர் பற்றி எம்‌ஜி‌ஆர் என்னிடம் சொன்ன ரகசியம் -விஜயகாந்த் பேட்டி | Vijayakanth exclusive interview
TVK founder Vijay reminisces about Captain Vijayakanth
07
TVK founder Vijay reminisces about Captain Vijayakanth
கலைஞர் பற்றி எம்‌ஜி‌ஆர் என்னிடம் சொன்ன ரகசியம் -விஜயகாந்த் பேட்டி | Vijayakanth exclusive interview
08
கலைஞர் பற்றி எம்‌ஜி‌ஆர் என்னிடம் சொன்ன ரகசியம் -விஜயகாந்த் பேட்டி | Vijayakanth exclusive interview
என்ன காப்பாத்தினது Captain விஜயகாந்த்-தான்! | Vijayakanth | shaam | Kollywood | Captain
09
என்ன காப்பாத்தினது Captain விஜயகாந்த்-தான்! | Vijayakanth | shaam | Kollywood | Captain
என்னயா காசு..காசு.. ஒரு வேளை சோறு போட மாட்டீங்க.. விஜயகாந்த் எமோஷனல் பேச்சு | Vijayakanth Speech
10
என்னயா காசு..காசு.. ஒரு வேளை சோறு போட மாட்டீங்க.. விஜயகாந்த் எமோஷனல் பேச்சு | Vijayakanth Speech

🌱 What changed because of them

Vijayakant transformed the Nadigar Sangam by erasing debts and establishing a pension scheme, directly improving the welfare of Tamil film industry workers. Politically, his DMDK disrupted the long-standing duopoly of DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu by becoming the main opposition in 2011, showing the potential for third-party alternatives in regional politics. His insistence on practical politics and direct engagement influenced how actor-politicians approached electoral contests in Tamil Nadu.

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