In what has become a terrific end of 2023 for most of the people across and beyond Tamil Nadu, well-renowned actor and politician Vijayakanth has passed away during the morning hours of Thursday - December 28 at the age of 71 in Chennai due to the age-related ailments. Fondly called as 'Captain' by his millions of fans and followers, Vijayakanth's death has put them in an unabated shock and sorrow. 

Vijayakanth had been under medical treatment for years and he was hospitalized in Chennai two days back for what was said as a 'medical review'. However, his health has attained a critical setback and early on Thursday, the MIOT hospital, where he was getting treated, officially announced that Vijayakanth was tested positive for Covid-19 and put on a ventilator support. 

The official announcement from the hospital saddened the fans as they woke up on Thursday. After his health deteriorated, hundreds of people gathered before Vijayakanth's residence, his political office, and before the hospital to know further about his health condition. Most of the fans had broken down in tears as there were no positive events around his health condition. 

For long-ailing Vijayakanth, the Covid infection came as a shocker as it worsened his health, pushing him to seek a lifesaving support. After getting affected with Covid, the hospital has restricted the visit of more people and we are told that his wife Premalatha and one of his sons were staying with him. In the midst of a close watch from millions of people across the state who waited with bated breath for an update of his health condition, the hospital officially announced that Vijayakanth has breated his last. 

At around 9.00 am on Thursday, the hospital officially issued a bulletin about his death. In its statement, the MIOT hospital said, "Vijayakanth was hospitalized for pneumonia and was getting treated with the ventilator support. In spite of efforts taken by the medical staff, he passed away during the morning hours of December 28." Thousands of police officers were stationed before the hospital, his residence, and his party office to control a deluge of fans and followers. 

Vijayakanth's mortal remains were taken from the hospital to his residence in Saligramam in Chennai, where several heartbroken fans and the leaders of his political party, DMDK, had gathered to pay their last respect to their beloved 'Captain'. Our sources say that from his residence, his body will be taken to the party office in Koyambedu and would kept for public to pay homage. 

Vijayakanth had been battling with health ailments for years and on November 18, he was hospitalized at MIOT hospital, Chennai and after three weeks of hospitalization, he got discharged on December 11, after dispelling the rumours about his health condition. Three days later, on December 14, he made his first public appearance after his discharge as he attended the party's general council meeting. 

His battle for survival became apparent in that meeting as he neither spoke nor shown signs of full recovery and his party cadres were taken aback to the health condition of their leader, who once influenced Tamil Nadu's cinema and political arena through his illustrious acting and roaring politics. On Wednesday - December 27, Vijayakanth was taken to the hospital again and the party reported that he was admitted to the hospital for a general medical investigation and would go home after three days. 

However, his health condition reported a setback on Thursday following the Covid infection. Amidst the speculations about his health, the hospital officially announced that Vijayakanth has passed away. The actor-turned-politican has left an unparallelled legacy and etched a benchmark throughout his journey.

Despite being an actor, he was instrumental in reforming the Tamil actors association and had a successful start as a politician before his downfall in the wake of prolonged health ailments. The year 2023 has been terrific for Tamil Nadu as it has lost prominent people like Manobala, Mayilsamy, Marimuthu, Bonda Mani and now Vijayakanth, who will immortally remain as a Captain.