In the midst of a sea of people, the legendary actor and politician Vijayakanth has taken his final journey on Friday - December 29, a day after his demise, which immensely saddened millions of people across and beyond Tamil Nadu. Vijayakanth, who was fondly called 'Captain' by his fans and followers, has breathed his last on Thursday at the age of 71 in Chennai due to pneumonia. 

Vijayakanth was active both in cinema and politics for five decades and went dormant after 2014 in the wake of his ailing health condition. He was down with Covid-19 several times and refrained from making public appearances. On November 18, he was admitted to MIOT Hospitals in Chennai due to lung-related ailments and was discharged on December 11. 

However, he was taken to the hospital again on December 26 for what was said as a regular medical review. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated and he was tested positive for Covid and was put under ventilator support. Despite the best efforts from the medical team to save him, Vijayakanth breathed his last at 6.10 am on Thursday - December 28. 

Following his demise, his body was taken from the hospital to his residence in Saligramam, Chennai. As the news of his demise became the talk of the town, thousands of people from across Tamil Nadu started arriving in Chennai to pay their last respects to their icon. After a brief stop at his residence, his body was taken to his political party DMDK headquarters in Koyambedu, Chennai. 

Several celebrities and general public gathered there to pay homage and the party has announced that Vijayakanth's last rites will be held at 4.45 pm on Friday. Earlier, Chief Minister MK Stalin, after paying his respect and consoling the bereaving family, announced that Vijayakanth's funeral will be done with full state honours as a recognition for his unparallelled contributions to public life both as an actor and politician. 

As the influx of people to see Vijayakanth surged up, Vijayakanth's body was taken to the Island Grounds in Chennai during the evening hours of Thursday with the view of managing overwhelming crowds. The state government has deployed proper measures and stationed hundreds of police officers to control the crowds. As expected, thousands of people arrived at Island Grounds on Friday to pay tribute to the deceased leader. 

Celebrities from Rajinikanth to Kamal Haasan have paid their last respects and arrangements were made to bury his body at the party's headquarters in Koyambedu. During the evening hours on Friday, Vijayakanth's final journey began from Island Grounds to Koyambedu and throughout the stretch, a sea of people followed the procession that it took over three hours to reach Koyambedu. 

For the one last time: A sea of people gathered in Chennai to offer a teary farewell for their idol Captain Vijayakanth who is on his final journey from Island Grounds to Koyambedu on Friday. He died on Thursday at the age of 71. #Vijayakanth #RIPVijayakanth @thenewstuffin pic.twitter.com/pzPRqnzHGf

— TheNewstuff (@thenewstuffin) December 29, 2023