Crowds of fans and members of London’s Tamil community gathered outside the Shangri-La The Shard hotel this week hoping to catch a glimpse of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who is staying at the hotel during a six-day investment tour of the UK.
Vijay, the actor-turned-politician who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, landed at London Heathrow on 11 September aboard an Emirates flight from Chennai, having left the previous night. He was met at the airport by Jacob Ravibalan, president of the British Tamil Association, along with TVK representatives and members of the local Tamil community, who presented him with bouquets before he travelled on to the hotel.
The Shangri-La occupies floors 34 to 52 of the Shard, the London Bridge skyscraper, and offers views over the Thames and the city skyline. Since Vijay’s arrival, well-wishers have gathered outside the building on several occasions, with some managing to secure selfies as he came and went.
The trip, which the Tamil Nadu government has described as aimed at attracting investment in advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, electronics and Global Capability Centres, has drawn wider attention beyond the crowds outside his hotel. On 12 September, Vijay flagged off the Michelin Le Mans Cup at Silverstone, where he was warmly embraced by actor-turned-racer Ajith Kumar – a reunion moment fans of Tamil cinema have anticipated for years, given the pair’s rivalry on screen. He was also seen at the event with actress Trisha Krishnan.
The Tamil Nadu government said the London leg of the visit produced investment commitments exceeding ₹15,300 crore, including a letter of intent from a European auto-components manufacturer to build its first Indian plant in the state, with the potential to create more than 10,000 jobs. Several memoranda of understanding were announced on 14 September.
The trip has not been without controversy. Opposition parties have accused Vijay of blending official engagements with personal appearances, questioning the need for a taxpayer-funded visit to sign deals with companies that already operate in India. The state government has rejected the criticism, pointing to the investment figures as evidence of the trip’s value.
Vijay is due to conclude his stay in London later this week before returning to Chennai.
