Vijayakanth, ‘Captain’
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A brief biography
Arun Janardhanan, Dec 30, 2023: The Indian Express
The only actor after MGR to forge a successful path in politics, Vijayakanth's DMDK reached its height as an AIADMK ally in 2011; wife Premalatha has shouldered the party in recent years
HIS achievements as an actor paralleled those of Rajinikanth, his political career echoed the success of M G Ramachandran (MGR), and he also earned himself a moniker, ‘Captain’, like the best in Tamil Nadu do.
While film and politics have always intersected in this region, the transition is not as easy as made out to be – and Vijayakanth was the only actor after MGR to have actually successfully translated his cinematic fame into substantial political influence. While J Jayalalithaa also touched political highs, she had MGR as mentor.
There are many others who fell by the wayside, from Sivaji Ganesan earlier to Kamal Haasan now.
In his prolific cinema career, Vijayakanth acted in over 150 films, distinguishing himself not just in quantity but with the nature of his roles. He portrayed a police officer in more than two dozen films, and his plots often centred around themes of honesty, anti-corruption, and the significance of keeping promises – which went a long way towards boosting political support for him among the poor.
Before he floated the DMDK (Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam) to make his political debut, Vijayakanth also charted a solo course in films, not seen as aligned with any camp.
The maverick
Vijayakanth’s beginnings were humble, born as Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswamy in August 1952, to the second wife of his father and losing his parents early. The family, from the Telugu ‘Naidu’ community, did not belong to any of the traditionally influential Tamil castes, which was again unique in a state characterised by its complex duopoly of anti-caste politics as well as the dominance of powerful OBC castes in politics and business.
As his star rose, Vijayakanth kept in touch with both his two stepsisters and his own siblings, at least one of whom settled down near his home. However, in later years, his world came to revolve largely around wife Premalatha and her brother, L K Sudheesh.
It were the roles he portrayed which helped Vijayakanth rise above the constraints of a minuscule caste base, with the actor-turned-politician successfully leveraging his fan following into a loyal vote bank, especially among the economically and socially marginalised.
His cinematic story too followed a similar plot. Despite his consistent releases starting from the 1980s, Vijayakanth’s projects did not achieve immediate commercial success, particularly in urban centres. However, they gained substantial revenue from rural theatres – earning him the title ‘Raja of B and C Class Theaters’ among producers.
One example was Vijayakanth’s super-hit film ‘Chinna Gounder’, which ran for over a year in rural theatres, compelling other stars to seek roles of village leaders who deliver justice to their communities. His other successes included ‘Amman Kovil Kizhakale’, ‘Senthoora Poove’, and ‘Vaidhegi Kaathirunthaal’, considered as much cultural landmarks as commercial ones. Vijayakanth counted late Tamil star Jaishankar and Bhanupriya as among the best actors the industry had seen.
In 1991, the film Captain Prabhakaran earned Vijayakanth the title of ‘Captain’.
When it came to marriage, Vijayakanth again took the unconventional route. “Once, he told us why he sought marriage into a non-cinema family, citing the non-controversial weddings of actors Sivaji Ganesan and Shivakumar (father of Tamil star Surya)… He chose to marry Premalatha, a graduate from a financially sound Telugu Naidu family,” a close friend told The Indian Express in an interview in 2016.
Among those present at the wedding were the late DMK leader M Karunanidhi and Congress leader G K Mooppanar.
The marriage
While Vijayakanth opted for caution in his choice of a life partner, Premalatha would come to be seen as having an iron hand on the actor, turning many of his associates away.
Among them were the late Ibrahim Rowther, a producer and a friend considered among those closest to Vijayakanth; and Ramu Vasanthan, who had played a key role in floating of the DMDK.
This distancing from former aides coincided with a slump in Vijayakanth’s film career. As his films received a lukewarm response, he drifted slowly towards a political debut, encouraged by Premalatha, who harboured dreams of seeing him become CM.
Premalatha’s brother Sudheesh also played a pivotal role, strategically steering Vijayakanth’s cinematic persona to include films with stronger political messages and confrontation with the ruling class, thereby resonating with a broader audience. The timing was fortuitous, given the emergence of younger stars in Tamil cinema such as Vijay, Ajith, Surya and Vikram.
In 2005, when Vijayakanth floated the DMDK, veteran Tamil politicians like Panruti S Ramachandran were there to help him along.
After their long separation, Vijayakanth would turn up at Rowther’s house only in 2015, to attend his funeral. As he stood weeping, Premalatha’s stoic expression did not go unnoticed.
The mission
Vijayakanth made his lofty ambitions clear at the DMDK launch, arriving at the rally in a blue van once used by MGR for his campaigns. With Premalatha turning out to be a compelling orator, the transition of Captain Vijayakanth to “Karuppu MGR (Dark MGR)” was seen as on course.
The 2006 Assembly elections, the DMDK’s first major electoral test, provided a further boost. While the party won just 1 seat (Vijayakanth’s), having contested in all 234 in the state, it garnered an impressive 8% of the total vote share.
Then came the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, where the DMDK got 10.3% of the votes and emerged as Tamil Nadu’s third-largest party.
The 2011 Assembly elections represented the pinnacle of the DMDK’s political journey. In alliance with the AIADMK, the party won 29 of the 41 seats it contested – finishing second – with its total vote share only showing a slight slide from 2006.
That left the DMDK in the unique position of being a pre-poll ally of the ruling AIADMK but the main Opposition after the elections, with Vijayakanth enjoying the status of Leader of the Opposition.
Vijayakanth also made a name for philanthropy. In 2014, he donated two-wheelers to disabled party sympathisers, distributing four vehicles in each of Tamil Nadu’s 33 districts; in 2018, he donated Rs 1 crore for Kerala’s relief fund.
Babu Murugavel, a former DMDK MLA who spent years working closely with Vijayakanth, says the actor believed deeply in the act of giving. “He often said that finding an addiction in giving donations was the greatest achievement of his life,” he says, adding that there were many similarities between Vijayakanth and MGR. “Captain lived like MGR; he embodied that same spirit and generosity.”
The marginalisation
After the 2011 Assembly poll high, the DMDK’s descent began. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which it fought as part of the NDA, it failed to win a single seat. On the other hand, the BJP rode his coat-tails to register a presence in the state where it was virtually non-existent, with Vijayakanth talking about Narendra Modi, then the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, in towns and villages across the state.
In the 2016 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the DMDK switched sides, this time aligning with a coalition of Left-wing parties. But, its performance was dismal again, with the party managing only 2.4% of the votes, despite touting Vijayakanth as one of the CM candidates, and despite the crowds responding enthusiastically to slogans of “Long live Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Captain Vijayakanth, Long live the Dark MGR” and cheering him as he began speeches with “Anbukonda pothumakkale (My dear citizens)”.
The fervour of the meetings could not hide the fact that Vijayakanth was visibly ailing, with the DMDK ensuring shorter public appearances and showcasing Premalatha instead.
The 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly polls further showed a diminishing Vijayakanth, with his vote share falling to 2.16% and 0.43%, respectively. By this time, Vijayakanth was a cipher of his former self, requiring assistance to get to the stage and sitting there without speaking, as Premalatha tried her best to fill the gap.
She openly addressed rumours about his condition, claiming it was only sinus, and even admitted to his short temper but also frankness.
Just a fortnight ago, with Vijayakanth having spent nearly a month in hospital with no signs of improvement, Premalatha was appointed the general secretary of the DMDK. She acknowledged her “crown of thorns” and made it a point to touch the feet of a wheelchair-bound Vijayakanth, who was present on stage to witness the transition.
The DMDK continues to be a significant political entity in Tamil Nadu, she declared, and “will send MPs to Delhi in 2024”. “Be it any alliance, let us talk, give it in writing,” Premalatha said.
To many, the situation resonated with another political transition: from MGR to the woman who stood by him till the end, Jayalalithaa. But, Vijayakanth could never be MGR and, with the BJP lurking at the door, Premalatha may find Jayalalithaa’s shoes outsized.
