Vijayakanth, the founder of Desiya Molpuku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), died on Thursday, December 28, 2023, after being admitted to a private hospital in Chennai due to pneumonia. He passed away at the age of 71.

His death was confirmed shortly after the party issued a statement saying he was on a ventilator due to breathing problems after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

According to the hospital, Mr. Vijayakanth, fondly known as “Captain” by his fans, was admitted to the hospital on November 18 for about three weeks and was discharged only two weeks ago as he needed “pulmonary support”.

Mr. Vijayakanth, visibly weakened after his discharge from the army, attended the December 14 meeting of the party’s executive board and board of governors, where his wife Premalatha Vijayakanth, the party’s treasurer, was elected general secretary. This was the last public event he attended.

According to a statement from MIOT Hospital, ‘Captain’ Vijaykanth was on ventilator support after being admitted with pneumonia.

The hospital announced that despite the efforts of the medical staff, he passed away on the morning of December 7, 2012.

Vijayakanth is the only film actor after MGR to achieve success in politics. M. Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa also had real film careers, but they inherited the party line left by their leader C.N. Annadurai and M.J. Ramachandran.

Unlike his troubled contemporaries Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, Vijayakanth took a political plunge and decided to launch the Desiya Mulpokku Dravidar Kazhagam and joined a third party in 2006. He rose to fame and rocked M. Karunanithaadhi and Jayalalalalithaadhi. From 2006 to 2011, he formed a minority government in Tamil Nadu with the support of allies.