The much misunderstood Vijayakanth

Vijayakanth has always been at the receiving end of attacks from the political press. Now when he offered to give the college grounds for the burial or cremation of those who died due to Covid 19, the response has been muted. Except for a Pawan Kalyan, a Cheran , Manobala or a Kasthuri, nobody has given any importance to this act. In fact, it was met with derisive laughter by a few paid professional who take part in TV debates. How can a college ground be used for burial or cremation ? The man is simply saying something for publicity. Nobody saw this as an offer in a time when a neurosurgeon who died of Corona virus was not allowed to be buried in the precincts of a church where he and his  family are members. The opposition was not from the Church or it's members. It was the residents around. The body was then shifted to a State owned burial ground. The accompanying doctors were beaten, ambulance windshield damaged, drivers run with bleeding head injuries. A doctor takes over the wheel and manages to drive away with the Doctor's body and come back only after two ACP's with force arrive . So much for the ` Warriors'.
As I worked for a film weekly published by Indian Express and my earlier ten years of my journalism being reporting politics , before making the shift, I always had lot of  journalists friends who are on political beat. During my visits to  Chennai Press Club, I have never come across a single film journalist. I was told that one needed to be covered by Working Journalists Act to be member and only DSR of The Hindu and Shankar of Screen ( my boss) qualified and both declined to be members.
My journalistic circles included Cinema Express Ramamurthy, Cine News Selvam and Film News Ananadan . All of us would meet often in the evening. Now and then Thanthi Pandian used to come. They were all regarded by Vijaykanth as his mentor's and they used to call him Viji. We used to meet him at Irbrahim Rowther's office in T Nagar and was next to Rohini Lodge, which I was told had  the room of Vijaykanth. Most of the evenings in Rowther's office ( airconditioned) was an open house. I had covered many films featuring Vijaykanth at outdoor locales. I don't recall the movie but remember that a group of college students who chased the car of Radha going towards the campus for shoot was stopped by Vijaykanth. He asked them to go back. It was a Sunday and college was closed. After some time, a group of students armed with sticks etc arrived at the spot and started heckling. He asked Radha and crew to go on shooting. At lunch break, we went inside the classrooms to have lunch. The crowd had by then turned abusive.
Vijaykanth asked the crew to shut the windows and doors of the classes where food was served. He said that no one should come out. After some time, the doors were opened. We saw Vijaykanth along with students going to have a full fledged non- veg meal. What happened ? We were told that Vijaykanth walked alone towards the students and spoke to them. He told them that the sexy Radha that they were abusing was also a woman first and if they still felt that they wanted to get close to her, they could go ahead but with a rider " No woman in my set or one who I see is persecuted, will walk away without taking me on. Here I am weaponless. As a student , I have got lathi blows from police during the anti- Hindi riots  We have fought for our rights but now you have brought it down to a bunch of eve teasers," The entire crew which included stunt men were standing away with the instruction to not move an inch at any cost. The students burst into applause and they took up the invitation to have lunch with  Vijaykanth. His  detractors may say that it was a well scripted drama staged to impress the film press.
The Captain Mantle
His 100th film was Captain Prabhakaran. Directed by R K Selvamani, the idea was floated ( the practice prevalent then) to bring out a special issue devoted to Vijaykanth, who by  then was christened Captain. He was to be featured on the national front page of Screen. I was told not to use any stills from his films and instead have an exclusive shoot. Captain liked the idea and he visualized the costumes with leather jackets, bazookas and huge chains etc. The shoot was done by R Krishna then freelancing with Screen. Incidentally, Krishna was ex sishya of Stills Ravi, the part and parcel of Captain camp.
Some close moments and Kerala connect with Captain
He used to meet the press when he had action sequences,  as it gave him long breaks between shots. He used to complain that without a fight sequence every week , made his body weak. It was one such night sequence and Captain revealed a slice of life before his Kodambakkam days. He wa sson of a rice mill owner in Madurai. He roamed the town with his friends that included Ibrahim Rowther. They kept falling in trouble often and he was packed off with Rowther to Trivandrum to get a job or start a business. His friend was running a business in the Fort area of  Trivandrum. As per tips got, he opened an imitation jewelry store. He took his photos to Merryland Subramaniam and others. They had no roles for a dark skinned hero. Vijaykanth was clear that he would play a hero and nothing else. He finally left Trivandrum and handed over the shop to his friend.
On one night, the atmosphere in Rowther's office was grim. It was an Diwali eve. Next day was the film release. Captain and Rowther had tapped many for funds to clear the lab dues and if it was not done, the prestige would be lost. They were waiting for the money. Will it come or not ?
It was then that Captain spoke about his salad days when he stayed in a lodge in Madras and moved around in a bike ( brought down from Madurai) with photos to seek chance as hero His co-traveler was Sathyaraj who had no qualms in even being a third stooge of villain and was elated if he got a dialogue - Yes Boss. The money order from Madurai kept Vijayakanth going.
The flashback had a mood of saying that - `Even if the film does not release, I will start from scratch and come back'. As the usual custom, Vijayaknth gave new clothes and sweet box as soon as I entered. I stayed back till early morning 2 AM, chatting with him in the open air outside his office. A car pulled up. Rowther came out with a smile and went with the guys in the car. The film got released. The saviour was Udayar , I learnt later.

I remember the wedding of Captain in Madurai. The Madras press was taken in  special coaches attached to a night train to Madurai. From the hotel to venue, it was jam packed. There  was crowds running around and chased by cops and fan club office bearers. All of them wanted to be on stage. Somehow we were taken backstage. After wishing Captain, we were told to go to balcony as Captain and wife would go around the ground in an open jeep. In the melee towards the stage, Film News Anandan, who usually wears pants, decided to wear a gold bordered veshti. In the melee, somebody stamped on his dhoti and it came apart. It was retrieved and tied around his chest.
Charities that went unsaid
I think the money that he has given to film employees who have worked and not worked in his films is amazing. After completion of a full fight sequence, he would hand over a cash packet to each fighter. This was his personal money.
When the sands slips under the feet
To my knowledge, the entire film press was under a Captain mania.  I heard snide remarks from other heroes saying  wind is blowing his way and press is going by it. His 100 day celebrations were seen as stage managed. His fan club offices across the State angered his contemporaries. He had a magazine devoted to only writing about his films and was funded by him. Somewhere along the line, another tough guy with a soft look and willing to do daring actions started to rise. The same PR machinery that praised  Captain had now a new hero. Captain knew it but he did not chase them. He stood his ground.
Nadigar Sangham and politics
To my knowledge, Vijaykanth had a neat exit from the filmdom. He puffingly reached his 150th film ( Arasangam), which was a hit. His dual role with Vikraman who gave hits backfired as Mariyadhai bombed. He donned the director's hat for Virudhagiri that too bombed. He then launched his son Shanmugha Pandian, yet another disaster.
His entry to Nadigar Sangham politics was mainly due to prodding by Radharavi , Radharavi joined hands with his sister Radhika and her hubby Sarathkumar to take over the control of a debt ridden body.  Most of the time, riding rough shod over Stars and many Star nites, the debts were cleared,
After a brief skirmish with PMK, Vijaykanth moved to full time politics. He stood alone against both the Dravidian parties and got 10% voter share and him becoming an MLA. No political journalist had any convincing reason but only that it was a flash in the pan. In the next elections, Jayalalithaa wanted to be in power and she wanted that 10% vote share. She gave him a meaty share of seats and that too to a man who she is in so many words said came drunk to Assembly. He got more seats than DMK and became the Opposition Leader.

Jayalalithaa after having achieved her goal was looking to Vijaykanth being a lackey. When he revolted, he was dubbed a traitor etc. When DMK offered him a chunk of seats in the next poll, his blind  hatred to Jayalalithaa and seeing that in DMK, he would have to play second fiddle to Stalin, took to an alliance that crowned him the King.
As any politician would do, he should have moved to DMK camp. The debacle and his failing health took him back to the pavilion.  What many cannot digest is `Why is he still wanted by other political parties? ' Nothing short of a miracle can bring him back to active life. He will remain a film actor who does not know  politics and failed and further justifying the lobby that now says ` This will be the case of Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan'