'Memory Worth A Crore': TN CM Vijay Gifts Sunglasses To Elderly Woman

For Chellam, an elderly farm worker in Salem, Tuesday began like any other difficult day in the fields. But an unexpected meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay soon transformed her routine afternoon into a moment she says she will cherish for the rest of her life.

Vijay was on his way to Salem airport after inspecting the Mettur hydroelectric power station and opening the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir when he made an unscheduled stop at a roadside farm. Seeing a group of elderly women working nearby, he stepped out of his convoy to meet them.

Chellam walked over after noticing the gathering and, on seeing Vijay, immediately reached out to hold his hand. The Chief Minister asked whether she had eaten and enquired about her well-being before walking with her around the garden and visiting the house and cattle shed of local farmer Palanisamy.

The most memorable moment came when Vijay took off his own sunglasses and offered them to Chellam. Though initially reluctant, she accepted them as he gently placed the glasses on her face. The gesture deeply moved her, particularly because she had admired him during his film career.

“He looked just like he does in his movies,” Chellam said, recalling her happiness at meeting him.

During the nearly 15-minute visit, Vijay also distributed dhotis and sarees to the host family and discussed local agricultural issues, including the government's decision to increase the milk procurement price to Rs 44.

Caught up in the excitement, Chellam forgot to tell the Chief Minister about her own struggles, including a lost ration card and her inability to undertake heavy physical labour because of her age.

As Vijay's convoy departed, he reportedly urged her to eat after telling her that he had already had his meal. Videos of the interaction later went viral on social media, with locals praising the Chief Minister's gesture.

For Chellam, the brief encounter left behind a priceless memory — one she described as being “worth a crore.”