'Ulaganayagan' Kamal Haasan paid his last respects to 'Captain' Vijayakanth on Friday, December 29, at the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) party office in Chennai. The actor-politician expressed his condolences to the DMDK founder's wife Premalatha Vijayakanth and sons Shanmuga Pandian and Vijay Prabhakar and recalled their time together over the years. Addressing the press, Kamal Haasan said, "Simplicity, friendship, hard work, generosity - these are all words that would best suit only one person, our dear brother Vijayakanth. He was the same with us before attaining star status and remained the same after he became a huge star."
Kamal Haasan, who founded the Makkal Needhi Maiam political party in 2018, shared further about 'Captain' Vijayakanth and said, "The thing I like the most about him is that his anger is the same as his humility. I'm a fan of his indignation and is the reason I believe he came to serve the people. Losing such honest people is kind of a loneliness for people like me. I bid farewell with the belief that he would have formed more people like him after staying one among his fans. I leave now saying my goodbyes to a good friend."
Vijayakanth passed away on December 28 following complications because of pneumonia. He was 71. Following the news of Vijayakanth's demise, Kamal Haasan was among the first in the industry to pay tribute to the Tamil cinema stalwart. His statement in Tamil on X translated into English reads: "The news of the death of my beloved brother Vijayakanth, the founder of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, a unique actor and captain of Tamil cinema, who was loved by all, is deeply saddening. He lived with humanity in every action. He was the creator of innovative ideas in Tamil Nadu politics. He extended a helping hand to the poor. Fearless courage was his hallmark. Vijayakanth, a revolutionary artist who made his mark in both the fields of cinema and politics, will remain forever in our memories. I offer my heartfelt condolences to all his family, cadre, and fans who are grieving his loss." (sic) Ardent Tamil cinema fans will remember that Kamal Haasan made a special appearance playing a filmmaker in Vijayakanth's film, Manakanakku (1986).
எனது அன்பிற்கினிய சகோதரர், தேசிய முற்போக்குத் திராவிட கழகத்தின் நிறுவனத் தலைவர், தமிழ் சினிமாவின் தனித்துவம் மிக்க நடிகர், கேப்டன் என்று அனைவராலும் அன்பு பாராட்டப்பட்ட விஜயகாந்த் அவர்களின் மறைவுச் செய்தி மிகுந்த துயரத்தைத் தருகிறது.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) December 28, 2023
தன் ஒவ்வொரு செயலிலும் மனிதநேயத்தைக்…
Vijayakanth's death was announced in an official medical bulletin by the authorities at MIOT Hospital in Chennai yesterday that stated, " 'Captain' Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023." The DMDK leader's mortal remains were brought to the Island Grounds this morning and will kept for the public to pay their last respects, with the funeral ceremony scheduled to take place at 4.45 p.m. Watch 'Ulaganayagan' Kamal Haasan pay his tribute to 'Captain' Vijayakanth in the video below:
