Vijayaraj Alagarswami, widely known as Vijayakanth, was a stalwart in the South Indian film industry and a prominent political figure. Born on 25 August 1952, Vijayakanth’s remarkable career spanned over four decades, during which he left an indelible mark as an actor, director, and politician. With a filmography of over 150 movies, he can be called the ‘Bharat Kumar’ of the South for his fervent portrayals of patriotism on the silver screen. Regrettably, the legendary actor breathed his last on 28 December 2023 in Chennai. His legacy remains etched in the hearts of admirers who cherished his contributions to cinema and politics alike.
In the realm of Tamil cinema, actor Vijayakanth stood out as a beacon of ‘Desh Bhakti’ through his prolific career in Tamil and other South Indian languages. His cinematic legacy is deeply rooted in portraying patriotic narratives that resonated with audiences. Renowned for his impassioned performances, he can be called the ‘Bharat Kumar’ of the South Indian film industry, much like the legendary Manoj Kumar in Bollywood. Vijayakanth’s filmography boasts iconic works such as “Captain Prabhakaran,” “Thayagam,” “Ulavuthurai,” “Ramanaa,” “Vallarasu,” “Vaanchinathan,” “Thennavan,” and “Narasimha.” In the 1990s, Vijayakanth underwent a notable transformation in the types of films he chose to take on. A pivotal shift occurred as he increasingly embraced roles portraying police officers, a trend that commenced with “Pulan Visaranai.”
Following the success of “Chatriyan” in 1990, another milestone in his career was the film “Captain Prabhakaran” in 1991, elevating him to superstardom and leading to the enduring moniker “Captain.” His journey as a police officer on screen continued with impactful films such as “Sethupathi IPS” (1994), “Maanagara Kaaval” (1991), “Rajadurai” (1993), “Thai Mozhi” (1993), and “Honest Raj” (1994), solidifying his reputation in this genre.
Captain Prabhakaran: The Film That Earned Him His Moniker
Loosely based on the life of forest brigand ‘Veerappan’, the film has Vijayakanth play Prabhakaran, a dedicated police officer, tasked with tracking down Veerabhadran, a sandalwood smuggler operating near the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. During his mission, he unravels the enigma surrounding Veerabhadran and exposes the actual perpetrators responsible for his criminal activities.
Vijayakanth came to be known as ‘Captain’ after this film became a runaway hit.
A Man Who Had No Qualms In Speaking About The Dangers Of Terrorism
Sethupathi IPS will remain a landmark film in Vijayakanth’s career that brought out the nationalist in him. The plot revolves around Sethupathi IPS, a dedicated cop from a family with a strong history of serving the country. He uncovers a terrorist plot against the Prime Minister of India and manages to save the day but inadvertently causes the death of a terrorist who is part of the plot. This leads to the arrival of the terrorist’s vengeful brother, Sivaprakasham, who infiltrates Sethupathi’s family by pretending to be a good man and even marries Sethupathi’s mute sister.
Sivaprakasham and his terrorist gang later take over a school, leading to a hostage situation. Sethupathi arrives to confront them and ultimately defeats the terrorists, including Sivaprakasham, while safely landing their escape plane. The movie concludes with Sethupathi finally receiving his grandfather’s coveted medal for his heroism.
Another underrated film of Vijayakanth is Narasimha. In the film, after the death of terrorist leader Wasim Khan, the new leader Rasool Akhtar aims to destroy India. He kidnaps 20 Indian soldiers and brutally murders them. He also brainwashes an orphan child named Sher Khan. Meanwhile, Narasimha, a dedicated army officer, plants a bomb in a CBI office building but is later arrested. During his escape, he embarks on a killing spree, targeting those who assisted Akhtar. It is revealed that Narasimha is working undercover to save kidnapped Indian colonels. He eventually defeats Akhtar, rescues the colonels, and marries his love interest, Vaanathi, after a series of dramatic events. The film concludes with Narasimha taking Sher Khan under his wing, symbolizing unity and patriotism.
This is how the dialogue goes like this… “What freedom do you not have in India? There is a mosque on each street. Does Pakistan have a temple in every village? Here we’ve had several Muslims as Chief Justices in courts. Can a Hindu become an advocate (lawyer) in Pakistan? India had a Muslim President. Can a Hindu become a Ward Member in Pakistan? Here’s another example, an Indian cricket team captain representing 100 crores of us was a Muslim. Can a Hindu even play cricket in Pakistan? The person who created nuclear weapons for the country’s security, Abdul Kalam, was a Muslim. The song Saare Jahan Se Achcha, Hindustan Hamara was written by a Muslim. The Governor who swore in governments to power, Fatima Beevi, was a Muslim. All my friends who I value more than my life are Muslims. Here we do not see each other’s religions. We look at everyone as humans. In India, all have the same religion – Humanity. Listen to me now, the Muslims in India are living peacefully, happily, and safely compared to Hindus living in Pakistan. Whether this truth will be comprehended by passionate fools like you or not, whether the terrorists who are brainwashing people like you comprehend it or not, whether the nations across the world who are watching things happen and keeping mum comprehend it or not, that Allah who is a symbol of affection knows it.”
Om Shanti captain vijayakant 🙏 pic.twitter.com/dIZYUxe76l
— राकेश/ராகேஷ்/Raakesh🐦🚩 (@rdx98eshvar) December 28, 2023
A Man Who Spoke About Corruption
His film Ramanaa also marked a new high in his career where Vijayakanth was respected for the role he played, stirring emotions of patriotism and doing good for the nation among the public. At a time when the actor was predominantly associated with formulaic masala films like “Vallarasu” and “Narasimma,” AR Murugadoss showcased Vijayakanth’s untapped potential with “Ramana,” marking a significant turning point in the actor’s career. In fact, “Ramanaa” served as the trailblazer that paved the way for numerous corruption-themed movies to emerge in the Kollywood film industry.
Farewell, Captain Vijayakanth.
One of his iconic movies – Ramanaa.
His last dialogue in the film is apt now:
"After my death, not even a single matchstick should be burnt in outrage.
The fire must be alight only in your mind. Jai Hind!" pic.twitter.com/eT9Zzfhjm4
— Tamil Labs 2.0 (@labstamil) December 28, 2023
The film’s massive success coincided with Vijayakanth’s entry into the political arena in Tamil Nadu, adding another dimension to his multifaceted journey.
And the nationalist that he is he named his party “Desiya” Murpoku Dravida Kazhagam. Desiyam in Tamil means nationalism/nationalistic.
Having celebrated four decades in Tamil cinema, Vijayakanth remained a unique figure, having acted in over 150 films exclusively in Tamil. In an era dominated by stars like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, Vijayakanth carved a niche for himself through his distinctive film choices. The 1990s witnessed a deliberate shift in Vijayakanth’s film choices, as he strategically incorporated patriotic themes, aligning with his burgeoning interest in politics. This decision proved fruitful, yielding commercial success and establishing him as a versatile actor adept at catering to both urban and rural audiences.
An enduring symbol of cinematic patriotism, he has left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of young viewers who were inspired by his commitment to portraying the essence of love for the nation.
Hydra is a freelance writer and columnist.
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