Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajinikanth, and Vijay pay tribute to Captain Vijayakanth

The crowds at the venue swelled with thousands of fans from various districts in Tamil Nadu making their way to the state capital to pay homage to their beloved star.

Long queues extended from the Island Grounds up to the Munroe Statue as people continued to throng the area.

The Tamil Nadu government announced full state honours for Vijayakanth’s cremation.

Rajinikanth fondly remembers the ‘Captain’

Addressing the media after paying homage to the late Vijayakanth, actor Rajinikanth said, “I returned only now from shooting. I had gone to Kanyakumari for shooting. We tried our best to come yesterday itself. There is a lot to say about Vijayakanth. Once you get to know him, you will not be able to leave him.”

Citing Vijayakanth as an example of friendship, the Tamil Superstar added, “Everybody who knows him will become a slave to his love. That is why he has so many friends who are ready to give their lives for him.”

Recalling that Vijayakanth would get angry with friends and even politicians, Rajinikanth noted, “But then, nobody would be angry with him because when he gets angry, there would be a valid reason for it. There won’t be any selfish interests behind it.”

‘Was always by my side’: Rajinikanth

The Superstar also fondly recalled two important incidents involving him and the late actor. “There are many incidents but I will cite two important incidents. When I was unwell and lying unconscious in the Ramachandra Medical College, a huge crowd gathered at the hospital and controlling them proved to be a problem. Vijayakanth arrived there and restored order in five minutes.”

Rajinikanth recollected: “We don’t know what he did but he cleared everybody out of the place. He told my family to reserve a room for him right next to mine to ensure that I wasn’t disturbed. It was something I would never forget.”

The other incident that Rajinikanth recalled was the one that happened in Malaysia.

“When we went to Malaysia for a Nadigar Sangam show, all the artistes boarded the bus and I got delayed as I was surrounded by fans and the media. Even the bouncers could not control the crowd. I was struggling to get into the bus,” he explained.

Rajinikanth added, “Vijayakanth, who already boarded the bus, saw me struggling and came to my aid. In two minutes, he cleared the way and got me into the bus safely.”

Related: Actor, politician, philanthropist Captain Vijayakanth passes away

Politicians express condolences

Apart from film actors, several politicians cutting across party lines paid their respects to the late actor-politician.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his platform X account, expressed his condolences. He wrote,” Deeply saddened by Vijayakanth’s demise. A legend in the Tamil film world, his mesmerizing acting skills have captured the hearts of millions.”

He further wrote: “As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service and made a lasting impact on the Tamil Nadu political arena. His demise has left a void that cannot be filled. I fondly remember the conversations I had with him over the years as a close friend of mine. My thoughts are with his family, fans and countless supporters at this sad time. Om Shanti.”

திரு. விஜயகாந்த் அவர்களின் மறைவு மிகுந்த வருத்தத்தை அளிக்கிறது. தமிழ்த் திரைப்பட உலகின் ஜாம்பவானான இவரது வசீகர நடிப்புத்திறன் கோடிக்கணக்கானவர்களின் இதயங்களைக் கவர்ந்தது. ஒரு அரசியல் தலைவராக, அவர் பொதுமக்கள் சேவையில் தீவிர அர்ப்பணிப்புடன் செயல்பட்டார், தமிழக அரசியல் களத்தில்… pic.twitter.com/XXct01yYsW

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 28, 2023

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also paid tributes to the late actor.

Related: Vijayakanth: A man of steel with a heart of gold!