Vijayakanth is an Indian politician and former Tamil actor, producer and director. He is the founder, president and general secretary of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) political party. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Vijayakanth was born as Narayanan Vijayaraja Alagaraswamy on Monday, 25 August 1952 (age 71 years; as of 2023) in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He completed his sixth class from MC High School, seventh and eighth from Devakottai School, ninth from a separate school and tenth and eleventh from St. Mary’s School. He was unable to continue his education after class eleven because at that time he was managing his father’s rice-milling business.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 7″
Weight (Approx): 70 kg
Hair Colour: Brown
Eye colour: dark brown
family and caste
Vijayakanth belongs to the Kamma Naidu family of Madurai.
parents and siblings
Vijayakanth’s father KN Alagaraswamy was a businessman. Vijayakanth’s mother Andal Azhagaraswami died a year after giving birth to him. He has three elder brothers and sisters. Later his father married another woman named Rukmani. He has 7 younger half-siblings.
wife and children
On 31 January 1990, Vijayakanth married politician Premlata. The couple has 2 sons, Shanmuga Pandian, an actor, and Vijay Prabhakar Alagaraswamy, an internet personality.
Vijayakanth (second from right) with (left to right) Vijay Prabhakar, Premlatha and Shanmuga Pandian.
relationships/affairs
Before marriage, it was rumored that Vijayakanth was dating Radhika Sarathkumar, but he never confirmed his relationship with her. They have starred together in various films such as Uzhavan Magan (1987), Neethiyin Marupakkam (1985), and Nanne Raja Nanne Mandhiri (1985).
Vijayakanth with Radhika in a scene from the film Neethiyin Marupakkam
Address
10/12A, Kannammal Street, Kannapiran Colony, Saligiramam, Chennai-600 093
Signature
Vijayakanth’s signature
livelihood
actor
In 1979, Vijayakanth made his debut in the film Inikkum Ilamai, directed by MA Kaza, in which he played an antagonist. In the same year he also did many other films. In 1980, his film Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam was screened at the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India, but SA Chandrasekhar’s 1981 film Sattham Oru Iruttarai was the one that truly made him a commercial hero. The film Sattam Oru Iruttarai was remade in many other languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. In 1990, he starred in the Tamil-language action thriller film Pullan Visaranai, which was considered one of the biggest crime thrillers in Tamil at the time. In 1991, Vijayakanth starred in the film Captain Prabhakaran, which was his 100th film. He played the role of an IFS officer in the film Captain Prabhakaran, earning him the nickname ‘Captain’. In 1993, she co-starred with director SA Chandrasekhar’s son Vijay in the Tamil language film Sendhurapaandi. Chandrashekhar believed that starring his son Vijay alongside Vijayakanth would be beneficial to further Vijay’s acting career. In this film, Vijayakanth played a long cameo role for which he did not take any payment and ultimately gained immense popularity for Vijay. In 2000, he made his debut as a producer with the film Vallarasu along with his brother-in-law LK Sudheesh under the Captain Cine Creations company. He then produced several other films in the following years. In 2010, he made his directorial debut with the film Virudhagiri, a remake of the French film Taken. He not only directed this film but also acted in it. After a five-year break from the big screen, he made a brief cameo in the Tamil-language film Sagapatham (2015). The film starred his son Shanmuga Pandian, marking Shanmuga’s debut film.
Politician
On 14 September 2005, Vijayakanth launched his own political party, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), a regional political party in Tamil Nadu. The party follows centre-left ideology. In 2006, he contested the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from Vriddhachalam constituency on the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) party ticket and won by a margin of 13,777 votes. His party members contested the elections in all 232 constituencies, but managed to win only in the Vriddhachalam constituency contested by Vijayakanth. In 2009, the DMDK party contested 40 seats in the 15th Lok Sabha elections with Vijayakanth as the party leader, but did not win any seats. In the 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, the DMDK party formed an alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The parties contested 41 constituencies and won 29 seats in the 14th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Vijayakanth won from Rishivandhiyam constituency and took charge as MLA for the second consecutive time. Vijayakanth became the leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. In 2013, the DMDK party contested 11 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections, but could not secure any seat. In January 2014, some heated exchanges between Vijayakanth and Jayalalitha during assembly meetings led to the end of the alliance between AIADMK and DMDK. In 2014, the DMDK party formed an alliance with the BJP and several other parties such as the MDMK, PMK and IJK. After this, he contested 14 seats in the 16th Lok Sabha elections, making Vijaykant the party leader, but could not win any seat. In 2016, Vijayakanth lost his post as Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly after eight of his MLAs submitted their resignations to the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly. In 2016, he contested the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from Ulundurpettai constituency, but did not win. In 2019, the DMDK party contested 4 seats in the 17th Lok Sabha election with Vijayakanth as the party leader, but did not win any seat. In 2021, Vijayakanth and his party contested 60 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, but could not secure any seats.
controversies
dispute with vadivelu
Following a gang attack on Vadivelu’s residence on 21 September 2008, Vadivelu filed a case of attempt to murder against Vijayakanth. According to Vadivelu, the attack was planned by Vijayakanth as there was a case pending in the court between Vijayakanth and Vadivelu and its hearing was scheduled the day after the attack. While campaigning for the 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Vadivelu and Vijayakanth took digs at each other at various election rallies.
misbehavior with journalist
In December 2015, Vijayakanth spat on a journalist during a press conference and accused the journalist of asking specific questions only to him and not to the other party. During the press conference he said,
I’m standing here talking to you all and being nice, but how about trying to contact her? You all are scared. Do any of you have the courage to ask him to hold a press conference? If your boss asks you to do it, you can do it, otherwise, you won’t get even a mile closer to him.
Later, the Chennai Press Club filed a complaint against Vijayakanth for alleged misbehavior with journalists.
assault on security guard
In April 2016, Vijayakanth was caught hitting a security guard walking on his right while on his way to a party meeting. The incident was captured on camera and telecast repeatedly on TV channels.
Awards and Honors
- In 1986, he won the Filmfare Award South in the Best Actor – Tamil category for the film Amman Kovil Kizhakale.
- In 1986, he won the Cinema Express Award in the category Cinema Express Award for Best Actor – Tamil for the film Amman Kovil Kizhakale.
- In 1988, he won the Cinema Express Award in the Best Character Actor category for the film Poonthotta Kavalakaran.
- In 1988, he won the Cinema Express Award in the Best Character Actor category for the film Seethura Poov.
- In 1988, he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award in the Best Actor category for the film Seethura Poove.
- In 1994, he received the MGR Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award for his contribution to Tamil cinema.
- In 2000, he won the Cinema Express Award in the category Best Actor Award for the film Vanthappola.
- In 2001, he received the Kalaimamani Award, the highest civilian award of the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
- In 2001, he received the Best Indian Citizen Award from the Citizens of India Forum.
- In 2009, he received the Top 10 Legends of Tamil Cinema Award for his contribution to Tamil cinema.
- In 2011, he received an honorary doctorate from the International Institute of Church Management.
Facts/General Knowledge
- The last time he played the role of a villain was in the film Om Shakti (1982), after which he never played the role of a villain in his life.
- In 1984 he released 18 films, making him the only actor in the Tamil film industry to do so.
- Before turning to politics in the 1990s, Vijayakanth consciously incorporated patriotism in his films.
- His 100th film, Captain Prabhakaran (1991), became a silver jubilee hit i.e. it completed 25 weeks in theaters since its release. The only actors to achieve this feat are MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalitha.
- Having acted in 154 films, he is one of the most loved film stars in the Tamil film industry.
- He is ranked as one of the top 20 greatest Tamil actors of all time by The Cinemaholic.
- In 2001, he established the Sri Andal Alagar College of Engineering in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.
- On 1 October 2001, Vijayakanth announced that Tamil Nadu would celebrate Actors Day on 1 October to commemorate the birthday of Sivaji Ganesan.
- In 2001, he served as the President of the South Indian Film Artists Association. During his tenure as president of the association, he organized celebrity appearances abroad to help the association pay off its debts.
- On April 14, 2010, he launched a 24-hour television channel called Captain TV and two years later he launched a 24-hour news channel called Captain News.
- He frequently consumes alcohol and has been seen in an inebriated condition at various public meetings.
- He has played the role of a police officer in more than 20 different films. Thus, a record was created for ‘the most number of times playing a police officer by any actor of his era’.
- Her dance in the film Bharatan (1992) was choreographed by Prabhu Deva.
- He co-starred with Nalini in the Tamil language film Annai Bhoomi (1985), which was the first 3D film in the history of the Tamil cinema industry.
- On 18 November 2023, he was admitted to Miyot Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu due to throat infection. On 30 November 2023, hospital officials updated about his health and said,
A lot of improvement was visible in Mr. Vijayakanth. However, there was a slight deterioration in his condition in the last twenty-four hours, requiring a small amount of pulmonary support. We are confident that he will make a full recovery. The expected length of hospital stay is another fourteen days.”
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn