The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A starry opening to <I>The Hindu</I> MetroPlus Lifestyle show

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Friday, Jun 01, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A starry opening to The Hindu MetroPlus Lifestyle show

Sudhish Kamath

Actor Vijay inaugurates expo amid scores of eager fans

CELEBRITY DRAW: Actor Vijay at the inauguration of The Hindu MetroPlus Lifestyle Show 2007 in Chennai on Thursday. — Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

CHENNAI: Maybe summer does nothing to fans. Who would have thought that there would be scores of `Ilaya Thalapathy' fans who didn't mind waiting in the sun for their star to arrive on a weekday morning.

They had read about it in the newspapers. They knew that Vijay was scheduled to inaugurate The Hindu Metro Plus Lifestyle Show 2007 at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam.

Half past ten, on the dot, maybe a minute earlier, the `Pokkiri' star stepped out of his SUV, dressed in jeans and a double-layered red checked shirt and white shoes. Mobbed on arrival, he quickly posed next to MetroPlus full-page vinyl blow-ups, before he lit the traditional lamp and cut the ribbon.

Fans fished out their mobile phones for clicking pictures, and a battery of photographers followed him as the shy, quiet star decided to take a walk around the exhibition to check out the stalls.

The brisk walk-through turned out to be a steeple-chase for fans, who followed him hurriedly through the endless maze of stalls, sometimes jumping or climbing over hurdles in their way. They jostled for space, trying to race ahead of the other in an eight feet wide corridor, all for a glimpse. And maybe an autograph. The actor gave in to demands of lensmen by striking a pose on a couch at a furniture stall.

Soon enough, other participants at the exhibition wanted him to visit their stalls too. Occasionally, Vijay obliged, stopping by, listening intently. Like, he did at the stall put up by the Jute Manufacturers Development Council.

The actor seemed visibly impressed with artisans at another stall but judging by what people seemed to be looking at, he was the biggest exhibit at the inaugural.

More photo opportunities ensued for lensmen at the Samsung LCD TV stall, and the sporting actor struck some more poses at the automobile section. "I had last gone to an exhibition maybe years ago. When I was little," says Vijay.

"Last year my wife and father had come for the exhibition. They should be coming again this year," he adds. "It's a one-stop shop for variety. I liked the artefacts especially the jute products," he said, on his way out.

The exhibition will be on from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. till June 4.

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