Politicians, party workers, film personalities, film crew members, and general public arrived at Island Grounds to pay their last respects.
Vijayakanth earned the title "Captain" after his 100th film "Captain Prabhakaran".
Following the death of their founder and leader “Captain” Vijayakanth on Thursday, 28 December, the DMDK announced that his mortal remains would be placed for public viewing at Island Grounds in Anna Salai, Chennai.
Actor Rajinikanth, who arrived from Kanniyakumari district to pay his last respects on Friday, 29 December, laid a garland on the decorated casket and teared up when he recounted two incidents that showed Vijayakanth’s values and the importance he attached to friendship and supporting colleagues.
Rajinikanth told reporters that though crores of men and women live and die in this world, it is only a few like Vijayakanth and people of his ilk who live forever in the hearts of people.
Crowds spilled on to the nearby flyover and even at midnight, there were thousands waiting to bid a final adieu to Vijayakanth.
Thousands of people, fans, celebrities, and politicians thronged Island Grounds near Marina Beach on Friday to pay homage to actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth.
The Who’s Who of Tamil Nadu, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, paid their last respects. These included actor Vijay, Mansoor Ali Khan, Vijay Antony, T Rajendar, and many others.
In a press statement on Thursday, the party said that politicians, party workers, film personalities, film crew members, and general public can pay their last respects to the actor-turned-politicians from 6 am to 1 pm on Friday, 29 December.
The party added that his mortal remains will then be taken in a procession to the party headquarters in Koyambedu where the last rites will be performed at 4:45 pm on Friday.
— Premallatha Vijayakant (@imPremallatha) December 28, 2023
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that Vijayakanth would be laid to rest with full state honours.
“Captain” Vijayakanth passed away in Chennai on 28 December. He was 71.
He had been battling Covid-19 and was on ventilator support at MIOT Hospital in Chennai since being admitted on 26 December.
“Captain Vijayakanth was hospitalised due to pneumonia and was being treated with ventilator support. He passed away this morning, 28 December 2023, despite the best efforts of the medical staff,” said the hospital in a statement.
While the party had earlier announced that his last rites would be conducted at the party office at 4:45 pm on Friday, they have now decided to extend public viewing so that the public can pay their respects.
— Premallatha Vijayakant (@imPremallatha) December 28, 2023
In November 2023, Vijayakanth was admitted at a private hospital in Chennai, following symptoms of fever, throat pain, and cold.
During the admission, the party statement said that Vijayakanth, fondly called “Captain”, was taken to the hospital for a routine check-up and is likely to return home in a day or two.
However, according to hospital sources, the actor developed a breathing issue during his admission and he was put on ventilator support whenever needed, during the treatment.
On 29 November, the Managing Director of MIOT International said that Vijayakanth’s health condition was showing great improvement. “However, over the last 24 hours, he showed mild deterioration requiring a small amount of pulmonary support. We continue to be confident that he will make a full recovery. Possible length of stay in hospital is a further 14 days,” read the hospital’s statement.
Vijayakanth was discharged from the hospital by mid-December.
Concerns about his health had led to a reduction in his political activities in recent years. His last public appearance was on 14 December during the DMDK’s 18th executive and general council meeting in Thiruverkadu, where due to his deteriorating health, the party’s reins were passed to his wife, Premalatha, elected as the party’s General Secretary.
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