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

When Vijayakanth became unwell and was hospitalised recently, several people voluntarily offered prayers for his well-being and hoped fervently that he would recover. There was genuine concern and love for this leader and star among the masses.

When he passed away, the Tamil Nadu Film Exhibitors’ Association immediately, as a mark of respect, announced that all the theatres in the state would be cancelling their morning shows.

But what could have earned such admiration and love for an actor who had long stopped acting?

Related: Actor, politician, philanthropist Captain Vijayakanth passes away

A kind-hearted man

Vijayakanth’s considerate and kind nature won him this overwhelming love from the masses, say those who knew the actor well.

Actor Vijayakanth. (X)

Recalls Chitramani, a veteran photojournalist who was the first person to click pictures of Vijayakanth on a film set, “Those days, unlike today, there were very few media publications. Journalists and photographers, who worked on a freelance basis, would not have enough money to make ends meet.”

He recalls, “Sometimes, at month-end, I would not have enough money even for a meal. There were days when I would struggle to overcome my hunger. On such days, I would cycle to meet actor Vijayakanth and producer Ibrahim Rowther, who used to stay in a lodge. The first thing that they would ask anybody who visited them was if we had eaten and served us hot food.”

The journalist adds: “They probably knew that we were going there just to eat, but not once did they make us uncomfortable. They were always kind. Several poor journalists, photographers, junior artistes, assistant directors, and poor people ate at his place without feeling humiliation or guilt for several days. Anybody who went there was treated with kindness.”

Indeed, this characteristic of Vijayakanth was legendary. Several people from across society have testified to his hospitality. The poor would often go to his place and invariably find warm food and kind words awaiting them.

Also Read: ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth hands over the party reins to his wife

A support system

Vijayakanth was also known for his willingness to trust people and give opportunities to freshers.

A young Vijayakanth. (X)

At a time when several stars chose to work only with directors with proven track records, Vijayakanth was the first to give opportunities to directors coming fresh out of the film institute.

He suffered several flops, but he never let that deter him from giving opportunities to newcomers.

In fact, he proved to be the stepping stone for a series of Tamil film directors who later became big legends in the Tamil film industry.

One of Tamil cinema’s iconic cult classics, Pulan Visaranai (1990), featuring Vijayakanth in the lead, was made by RK Selvamani when he was a fresher.

Selvamani, during a speech delivered some years ago, recalled how Vijayakanth insisted that the newcomer be given a free hand to do what he wanted.

The director recollected, “He would tell everybody not to pressurise the director. ‘It is his (director’s) film. He must have thought about it for over a year on how to make it. Don’t put him under pressure. Give him a free hand’ is what Vijayakanth sir used to tell others.”

What is interesting to note is that 11 films of Vijayakanth before Pulan Visaranai had turned out to be flops. Yet, the actor never pressurised Selvamani, who was directing his 12th film.

Selvamani repaid that trust with another fantastic blockbuster. He helmed Captain Prabhakaran (1991), which emerged as another cult classic and a blockbuster.

Also Read: Setback in Vijayakanth’s health in the last 24 hours, informs hospital

‘Captain’ Prabhakaran

DMDK founder-president Vijayakanth. (X)

Also, Captain Prabhakaran was Vijayakanth’s 100th film and was instrumental in fetching him the title “Captain” in real life.

Vijayakanth was known to silently forego his salary on several occasions to help his producers.

The “Captain”, as he was fondly called by everybody, was truly a leader at heart! In fact, the South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA), better known as the Nadigar Sangam, owes its existence to Captain Vijayakanth.

The Nadigar Sangam might be the second most powerful film body in the Tamil film industry today, but it was tottering in debt at one point in time and was on the verge of going down.

Vijayakanth took over the reins of the Nadigar Sangam when it was in its most vulnerable state. He swiftly steadied the ship and wiped out all its debt by organising cultural events and getting all the stars to participate.

By the time he relinquished office, the Nadigar Sangam emerged as a powerful film body with a strong bank balance of at least ₹1 crore in its account.

Another defining trait of Vijayakanth was his willingness to take on challenges head-on. Vijayakanth was one of those few actors who seldom used a body double.

No matter how risky the stunt was, Vijayakanth would do it himself. Indeed, his reverse kick was famous and had his fans proudly gloating about it.

The man suffered several injuries but never made an issue of the injuries he suffered while enacting action sequences.

As a politician

Vijayakanth, as a politician, took on a formidable opponent in AIADMK Supremo Jayalalithaa, but he never let that rattle him.

As Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, he spoke for the masses in the state.

Above all, Vijayakanth won the people’s hearts for his nature of being true to himself.

Says Chitramani, “He was always the same person. The warmth with which he received us when he was a newcomer did not change. He would receive us with the same warmth when he was at his peak.”

With his demise, Tamil cinema and the Tamil people have lost an honest and committed leader, a committed and generous actor and a wonderful and kind human being.