'Captain Prabhakaran' returns: How Vijayakanth's blockbuster became a game-changer
Fans celebrate the 4K re-release of his 100th film, which cemented his 'Captain' title and political image
Thirty-four years ago, a movie named after an insurgent leader from Sri Lanka became a commercial hit with a massive welcome among Tamil movie lovers. With politically invoking dialogues, peppy songs, and fine-tuned stunt choreography, Captain Prabhakaran gave a visual treat to the people of Tamil Nadu.
The said movie, according to Kollywood movie historians, put Vijayakanth, late actor-turned-politician, in the limelight with the epithet 'Captain'. Even two years after his death, his fans fondly addressed him as 'Captain'. When a 4K movie trailer ahead of its re-release was launched a couple of weeks ago, his fans and cadres eagerly waited for the theatrical experience one more time.
Captain Prabhakaran was rereleased in theatres across Tamil Nadu on Friday (August 22).
With more than 500 screens, his fans and party cadres have started celebrating this iconic movie to mark his birth anniversary on August 25.
This movie was originally released on April 14, 1991, on the Tamil New Year.
Watch | DMDK sans Vijayakanth: What's the route for 2024? BJP or AIADMK?
RK Selvamani directed the movie. Rubini, Ramya Krishnan, and Mansoor Ali Khan, among others, were the co-stars.
Kollywood movie critics and historians noted that this movie paved the way for Vijayakanth to carry his political ideology, message, and image as a helper of the poor to the masses, including people from rural Tamil Nadu. According to them, his stature reached a new height as a supporter of the Eelam cause.
Eelam cause
Writer and Historian Stalin Rajangam, speaking to The Federal about the impact this movie created among the people, noted how much he personally loved it.
"I was in grade 7 when this movie got released, and I still remember every song tune of the movie," he reminisced, and suggested that this movie elevated actor Vijayakanth as a supporter of Eelam Tamils.
"It was a known fact in the industry that he was helping workers on the movie sets and extended his support to the Eelam Tamil migrants from Sri Lanka. He provided cycles, sewing machines and helped them in many other ways. But naming his 100th movie after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader brought him respect and admiration to a new level," Rajangam said.
It is to be noted that Vijayakanth named one of his sons after Prabhakaran.
Also read | Vijayakanth: Actor-politician who brought politics to cinema and cinema to politics
"After this movie, many Rajinikanth fans became Vijayakanth's fans," he noted further.
"It is not right to say this movie alone gave him the image that he is 'yezhai pangalan" (translates into 'helper of the poor' in Tamil). Earlier, his movies Sattam Oru Vilayattu ('Law is a game', 1987), Uzhavan Magan ('Farmer's son', 1987), and Poruthathu Pothum ('Enough with patience' 1989) gave people an impression that he was not just an actor but someone who really cared about social causes, as his movie characters fought against injustice, voiced for poor and marginalised," he added.
Commercial hit
Rajangam said Kamal Haasan's Nayagan ('Hero') and Rajinikanth's Manithan ('Man') were released in the same year as Uzhavan Magan. Vijayakanth's film was not only a huge commercial hit but also received positive reviews from the people.
"As he was getting popular among the people through his characters, Captain Prabhakaran was released. It was a commercial hit. Two scenes in the movie — where he questions corruption, the police force, and the government — cemented his image as a mass leader. Dialogues penned by Liaquat Ali Khan have become immortal. Not only the songs (Ilaiyaraaja's iconic songs), but the entire movie was recorded on cassettes and found its way to every nook and corner of the state. Indeed, this movie promoted him as a 'Captain' or a leader of the poor," he explained.
Also Read: ‘The Bengal Files’ debate: Cinema, history, and responsibility
Selvamani overwhelmed
Talking to The Federal, director Selvamani expressed his happiness over the reception for this movie. “Even those who weren't born when this movie was released are getting a chance to watch it in theatres. I’m overwhelmed with happiness as I witnessed how people celebrated this movie. Fans were enthralled and applauded every scene,” he shared his theatre experience.
Responding to the feedback that his movie helped to carry Vijayakanth’s political ideologies to the Tamil people, he said, “Everyone has different political ideologies. When I narrated the story to Vijayakanth, he neither hesitated nor modified the story. He readily accepted the storyline and acted in it. Indeed, through his support, we carried our political messages to people.”
Even after 34 years, the reception for the movie remains the same, as his fans and cadres have been excitedly visiting theatres to watch the movie. DMDK General Secretary and Vijayakanth's wife, Premalatha, with their son Vijaya Prabhakaran and other family members, watched the movie in a theatre in Cuddalore.
They were seen shedding tears of joy watching Vijayakanth on screen. Yet again.
