Vijay’s sunglasses steal the show: Why his heartwarming gesture to elderly woman in Salem went viral
Chennai/IBNS: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's interaction with an elderly woman during an unplanned stop in Salem went viral after the TVK chief handed over his sunglasses to her in a heartwarming gesture, media reports said.
The incident, which took place during Vijay's visit to Salem, has sparked an emotional response on social media, with visuals of the interaction widely circulating online.
Why was Vijay in Salem?
Vijay visited Salem on Tuesday to open the gates of the Mettur Dam for the release of water for Samba paddy cultivation in the Cauvery Delta.
After the official programme, he was travelling from Mettur towards the airport when he made an unscheduled stop at a roadside farmhouse.
Vijay meets elderly woman
During the stop, Vijay noticed a group of elderly women working in the fields. He stepped out of his convoy and went over to greet them.
One of the women, identified as Chellam, recognised Vijay and approached him, holding his hand.
The actor-turned-politician then walked around the garden with her, asked her name and enquired about her well-being.
#WATCH | Salem | Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay visits the house of a farmer and gifts his glasses to an elderly woman in Mettur
— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2026
(Source: TN CMO) https://t.co/VQy07Jy7kt pic.twitter.com/NhZN3FfXmF
During their interaction, Vijay removed his Christian Dior sunglasses, placed them on Chellam and eventually handed them over to her.
Chellam later said she was overwhelmed by the encounter and compared her happiness to “winning a crore of rupees.”
“I was so happy I told him I would defend him if anyone ever tried to harm him,” Chellam said, as quoted by NDTV.
Vijay's work as Tamil Nadu CM
Vijay's administration has so far focused on three broad areas — welfare delivery, farmer and youth-focused development, and establishing a distinct political identity for TVK.
The government's first 100-day report highlighted welfare, education, housing, employment, agriculture and investment, while also identifying tackling drugs and liquor-related issues as key areas of focus.
The Salem interaction has now added a more personal dimension to Vijay's public outreach, with his gesture towards Chellam becoming one of the most widely discussed moments from his visit.
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