PM Modi Pays Tribute To Vijayakanth From Trichy, Says 'He Was Captain in Both Cinema & Politics'

Days after DMDK founder-leader and Tamil actor Vijayakanth passed away in Chennai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid his tributes to actor-turned-politician and said that he was not just a ‘Captain’ in cinema but in politics too.

“Just a few days ago, we lost Thiru Vijayakanth ji. He was a captain not only in the world of cinema, but also in politics. He won the hearts of people through his work in cinema. As a politician, he always put national interest above everything. I pay my tributes to him and express condolences to his family and admirers,” the Prime Minister said in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirapalli.

PM Modi is currently on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep to inaugurate multiple development projects worth crores. After receiving a grand welcome from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development projects and opened the new terminal at Trichy airport.

He also attended the 38th Convocation Ceremony of Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirapalli as a chief guest. At both events, the Prime Minister was seen sharing the stage with DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Notably, Stalin is among the key faces of the INDIA bloc, which was formed with an aim to oust the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the Centre in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

PM Modi Pays Tribute To Vijayakanth

DMDK founder and popular Tamil actor Vijayakanth passed away in Chennai on October 28 following an illness at the age of 71. The Prime Minister expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote that he is extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji.

“A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti,” he added.

Vijayakanth, also known as the Captain, was a prominent figure in both Tamil Nadu’s politics and film industry. He entered the political space of the southern state when it was primarily dominated by two major parties – DMK and AIADMK.