Vijayakant: The ‘angry young man‘ of Kollywood who turned into a mass hero

Vijayakanth death: Here is a lookback on Vijayakanth’s Tamil cinema career, his road to politics

Vijayakant, the actor who carved out a niche for himself on the silver screen in the heydays of Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan, had started his career as a villain in an almost unknown film, Inikkum Ilamai. In later years he played multiple roles and is fondly remembered for his portrayal of lead characters in action movies, village-based dramas, and a few notable roles as a romantic lead, commanding a huge fan following, especially in rural areas and small towns.

‘Captain’ Vijayakant, the Tamil actor turned politician, passed away in Chennai on December 28, 2023.

Arguably, Vijayakant’s first major hit and one which is remembered even today is Sattam Oru Iruttarai, which was directed by S.A. Chandrasekar, father of actor Vijay. Just a cursory look at the titles of some of the movies he starred in the 80s - such as Sivappu Malli (Red Jasmine), Jaadhikku Oru Needhi (Law for each caste), Sattam Sirikkiradhu (Law is Laughing), Alai Osai (Sound of Waves), Engal Kural (Our Voice), Neethiyin Maruppakkam (Other Side of Law), Enakku Naane Needhipathi (I am my own Judge) – will show how Vijayakant propelled his career by playing ‘angry young man’ roles, who fought against the injustice meted out to ordinary people by the justice system, against discrimination in society and showcased resistance.

Also read:Vijayakant: DMDK founder who briefly altered TN’s bipolar political landscape

. The song ‘Poradada Valendhada’ in Alai Osai became an anthem of resistance for the Dalit communities in the southern districts against other backward castes who were exerting their dominance over Dalits. The 1980s also saw him perform well in roles as a romantic hero in Amman Kovil Kizhakkale and Paatukku Oru Thalaivan.

In the 1990s, Vijayakant reinvented himself from ‘angry young man’ roles to ‘honest police officer’ roles in films that showcased his ability to perform well in action sequences. He was especially known for his ‘kicks’ in action sequences.