Kollywood mourns the loss of Vijayakanth, the iconic actor and founder-leader of DMDK, whose presence kindled hopes for a real alternative to the dominant Dravidian parties, DMK and AIADMK. His demise, at the age of 71, leaves a void in both the Tamil film industry and political landscape.

Known affectionately as 'Karuppu MGR' (black MGR) by his fans, Vijayakanth, characterized by his generosity, had been unwell for the past 4-5 years. His wife, Premalatha, formally assumed leadership of the DMDK on December 14.

Veteran Tamil producer Kaayar reflects on the loss, stating, It is a great loss to the Tamil film industry and political space too since he was an efficient actor and an honest leader. Kaayar asserts that Vijayakanth possessed the qualities to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu if he had been healthy and continued in politics.

Discussing Vijayakanth's impact on Tollywood, renowned Telugu writer Gopimohan notes his initial confusion with superstar Rajinikanth's association. However, he acknowledges that Vijayakanth's dubbed movies, including 'Police Adhikari,' 'Captain Prabhakar,' 'Sindhurapoovu,' 'Noororoju,' and 'Chatriyudu,' enjoyed success at the Telugu box office, earning him a following among Telugu viewers in the 80s and 90s. Gopimohan highlights Vijayakanth's pivot to collaborate with film institute alumni and Tamil filmmakers in the 1990s, producing slick action flicks with realistic themes, inspired by Hollywood.

Vijayakanth's movies, later remade by Telugu heroes like Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, and Dr. Rajasekar, continued to resonate with audiences. His film 'Tagore' with Chiranjeevi, in particular, addressed societal issues, exposing weaknesses in corporate hospitals and advocating for a special force to combat corruption.

Summing up Vijayakanth's career, producer Kaayaar emphasizes his fascination with anger-driven roles, noting how he transformed into an action hero with films like 'Sattam Oru Irruttu Aarai' and 'Neethiyin Marupakkam.' Fate, however, took its course, and Vijayakanth's legacy as a powerful actor and leader will be remembered in the annals of Tamil cinema and politics.