DMDK founder, popular actor 'Captain' Vijayakanth passes away at 71

DMDK Founder, Popular Actor 'Captain' Vijayakanth Passes Away At 71

by Utkalika Mohanty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Popular Tamil actor and former leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Vijayakanth, passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in Chennai. The 71-year-old had founded Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK).

Chennai, Dec 28: Popular Tamil actor and former leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Vijayakanth, passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in Chennai. The 71-year-old had founded Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK).

Officials at Miot Hospital confirmed his death. The actor, known by fans as the "Captain" for his portrayal of military characters, was admitted for the treatment of pneumonia and was on ventilator support. He tested positive for Covid-19.

"Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilator support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, he passed away in the morning on Dec 28," the hospital stated.

Vijayakanth founded DMDK in 2005, challenging the supremacy of former CMs J. Jayalalithaa and M. Karunanidhi. He was a successful actor, producer, and director, serving as LoP twice, representing the constituencies of Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam. He is survived by his wife, Premalatha, and two sons.

Vijayakanth, a successful action hero, earned the title "Puratchi Kalaignar," meaning revolutionary artist. He made his debut with 'Inikkum Ilamai' in 1979, as a villain and went on to become an action icon in the 1980s and 1990s.

His superhit movie 'Sattam Oru Iruttarai' was remade in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages. In 1984, he had 18 releases, becoming the only Tamil cinema actor to release maximum films in a year in the lead role. He appeared in 154 movies and was one of the most adored film personalities in the Tamil film industry.

Vijayakanth had declared that he would not accept donations for his political party. PM Modi had given a special reference to him in the NDA leaders' meeting and referred to him as his friend. He was also criticised for making objectionable gestures in public, often towards journalists.

(IANS)

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IPL 2025: Chennai Might Think About Leaving Dhoni Out For A Game, Feels Ponting

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

New Delhi, Nov 4: After being retained by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the IPL 2025, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting feels that MS Dhoni might be rested for a game here and there in the next season to get the best out of him.

The 43-year-old, who is at the last stage of his playing career, only features in the IPL since announcing international retirement in 2020. He led CSK to five IPL titles under his leadership.

“Two seasons ago he probably had his worst season, but then last year again, he bounced back into really impacting some games like the MS Dhoni of old," Ponting said on the recent episode of The ICC Review.

"I think it will be exactly the same now...they might not get him through the whole season. They might think about leaving him out for a game and resting him up here and there to make sure that they’re getting the best out of him.”

Ponting expressed his admiration towards Dhoni's longevity and lauded his mentorship quality despite not being the captain of the side.

“Any team that he's in, whether he's captain or not, he's always going to be a mentor and a leader around that group, whether he’s playing, whether he’s sitting on the sidelines, that’s just who he is…he’s crucial to Chennai, for that leadership that he brings on and off the field,” Ponting stated.

“The best players are the ones that are able to maintain such a high level for a long time…for 10, 12, 14-year careers.”

Ponting emphasised how Dhoni has evolved over the years to remain impactful in the game with his unique ability to mould himself according to the situation.

“He’s actually batting the last 20 balls of an innings now but still showing that you can make a big impact on the game by doing that,” Ponting added.

--IANS

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K’taka: Two Arrested For Raping Young Woman In Mysuru

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Mysuru, Nov 4: Karnataka Police have arrested two accused for gang-raping a young woman on Monday who (accused) got acquainted with her (victim) in Mysuru city of Karnataka.

According to police sources, the incident had taken place on Sunday and the victim lodged a complaint with the Vijayanagar police station in Mysuru.

According to preliminary reports, the young woman had met the accused at a pub in Mysuru and after luring her the accused had taken her to a lodge and committed the crime.

Sources said that the police have collected CCTV footage of a young woman partying with one of the accused persons in the pub for a long time. The accused and the victim had consumed more than seven bottles of beer together.

The police have also got the CCTV footage of the victim and the accused normally entering the lodge and departing from there. The accused who was with the victim at the pub had invited one of his relatives to the lodge.

The police are yet to ascertain what exactly happened inside the lodge between the victim and the accused persons. The police stated that the invocation of the BNS Section for gang rape in the FIR is based on the complaint and not on the incident.

The victim has not suffered any injuries and she is safe and normal. The police sources stated that they are verifying the facts of the complaint given by the victim.

The latest incident has brought back the horrific incident of the sensational Mysuru gang-rape case which took place in Mysuru on August 24, 2021. Siddaramaiah was then the Opposition Leader in the Assembly and had come down heavily on the ruling BJP government.

The victim was dragged inside by the rapists when she was sitting and chatting with her friend in a park.

Karnataka police had submitted 1,499 pages of charge sheet in connection with the incident. The victim after college hours had gone to an isolated place near Chamundi Hill with her male friend.

The seven miscreants attacked them, sexually assaulted the lady and demanded Rs 3 lakh ransom from the youth. Later, the victims were admitted to a private hospital. The police had arrested seven persons from Tamil Nadu.

The incident had created a furore in Karnataka as student organisations came to the streets to protest the incident and demanded the arrest of the culprits.

However, the victim had gone back to her native and remained incommunicado with the police for a long time. However, the police kept in touch with her and managed to convince her to give a statement before the magistrate.

--IANS

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Cashless Transactions At 588 Booking Counters In Northeast Frontier Railway Zone

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Guwahati, Nov 4: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), which operates in the northeastern states and in seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of north Bihar, has equipped 588 booking counters with QR code machines across its five divisions in a bid to support ‘Digital India’ and enable cashless transactions, officials said on Monday.

NFR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that 588 numbers of booking counters with QR code machines have been installed in five divisions -- Katihar, Rangiya, Alipurduar, Lumding, and Tinsukia.

He said that this initiative ensures that passengers at almost all major stations within the NFR network can benefit from seamless digital payments, making ticketing more convenient and efficient.

The digital booking counters have been strategically distributed, with 167 in Katihar, 96 in Alipurduar, 87 in Rangiya, 175 in Lumding, and 63 in Tinsukia.

The CPRO said that with the ongoing festive season, NFR has launched several special trains to manage the passenger rush and demand.

The availability of QR code machines at booking counters is especially beneficial for festival rush travellers, allowing them to avoid lengthy queues for cash transactions and opt for faster digital payment modes, he pointed out.

According to Sharma, this setup not only enhances passenger convenience but also aligns with safety protocols by minimising cash handling, ensuring a smoother journey for all.

The official said that the QR Code-based ticketing system would allow passengers to book their tickets through various digital platforms. Passengers can scan the QR code at the station to obtain their tickets without the need for physical interaction.

This move is expected to reduce queues at ticket counters, minimising the use of cash, and ensuring a faster and more secure ticket purchasing process.

The introduction of QR Code machines for cashless ticketing is another milestone achieved by NFR towards its efforts for modernising passenger services with enhanced amenities, the railway official said.