On a somber Thursday in Chennai, the vivacious political sphere in Tamil Nadu suffered a significant loss with the demise of Vijayakant, the beloved Tamil actor and founder of the political outfit Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK). The veteran, whose foray into politics provided a brief but impactful challenge to the state’s traditional bipolar dominion, breathed his last at a private hospital in Chennai. Engulfed by the ravages of COVID-19 and subsequent respiratory complications, Vijayakant, aged 71, leaves behind his wife, Premalatha Vijayakant, who recently assumed the office of DMDK’s general secretary, and two sons.
The rise of Vijayakant in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape paralleled stories scripted in cinemas—an onset that held promise of permanence but, like a cinematic twist, saw its crescendo reach an untimely demise. Never inheriting a political lineage, unlike stalwarts M. Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa, Vijayakant, after MGR, remains the only film star to have etched such a notable political presence—emerging as a formidable third force capable of breaking the bipolar hold of DMK and AIADMK post the millennium.
In 2006, sent shockwaves through the political corridors of Tamil Nadu by amassing an impressive 8.38% vote share as an independent entity. This was a first for any actor-turned-politician since MGR, and his unique appeal to women and the youth only saw his popularity swell. But the political scene is as flickering as the arc lights, and within a decade, Vijayakant witnessed a challenging journey from being a political maverick to leading a party struggling to retain even one percent of the electorate’s confidence.
Born Vijayaraj in Madurai, he struggled through the early days in Chennai before carving a niche for himself as ‘Vijayakant’ in Kollywood—in a terrain dominated by megastars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. His stoic determination showed through both his cinematic and political careers, earning him the moniker ‘Captain’, and his generosity paralleled the path of M.G. Ramachandran, another revered philanthropist and star-politician.
In a strategic bid for political ascendancy, Vijayakant joined forces with the AIADMK in 2011. This alliance proved fruitful, catapulting his party to the position of the second-largest in the Assembly and conferring upon Vijayakant the role of Leader of Opposition. He held his ground against the AIADMK until open confrontations with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa took their toll and edged the party towards isolation.
As his health waned, and with it his public presence, the managerial reins of DMDK shifted to his family. His once robust political influence began to erode as defections within his party became rampant culminating in some of his MLAs switching allegiance to rival parties.
Vijayakant ventured beyond the usual alliance strategy by leading a third front in the 2014 parliamentary elections and explored possibilities with the Left parties, VCK, MDMK, and TMC; however, the alliance failed to secure any seats. In the grand tapestry of Tamil Nadu politics, Vijayakant’s role, though fleeting, was marked by its vibrance and the promise of what could have been.
Despite his attempts at forging a distinct path, his affiliation with the DMK had its frictions. A noticeable instance being the demolition of a significant portion of his marriage hall, which also doubled as the DMDK headquarters, under the DMK regime—a move that ostensibly strained the ties between the two.
Vijayakant, affectionately termed as ‘Puratchi Kalaignar’ by the late M. Karunanidhi, graced the political stage with flamboyance and believed in the challenge against the status quo. Even as he orchestrated grand gestures to honor Karunanidhi, his relationship with his political companions remained complex and often contested. Such was the maverick nature of the man who strove to transcend his cinematic identity and etch his name in the complex annals of Tamil Nadu’s political history.
As we bid farewell to Vijayakant, his indelible imprint on both the silver screen and the political arena will continue to evoke the tale of a hero who dared to reframe the narrative of his time, providing a brief but stirring disruption to the bipolar norm that has long held sway in the realms of Tamil Nadu politics.
