Puri, May 13: Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a striking sand sculpture at Puri Beach, Odisha, in honor of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, following the party’s strong performance in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The artwork featured a detailed portrait of the actor-turned-politician, incorporating TVK’s signature colors and a congratulatory message reading, “Congratulations VIJAY Anna!” Pattnaik shared photographs of the sculpture on social media, writing, “Heartiest congratulations to #ThalapathyVijay Anna! My sand art at Puri Beach, Odisha.”

Vijay, popularly known as Thalapathy, expressed his gratitude on social media, saying, “A huge thanks to legendary sand artist Thiru @sudarsansand for this breathtaking creation! Your talent never fails to amaze. Deeply touched by this beautiful gesture.”

Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars, formally entered politics by launching TVK, positioning himself as an alternative to the state’s long-dominant Dravidian parties. The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections marked a historic moment, with TVK emerging as the single-largest party and breaking decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK. Following the victory, Vijay was sworn in as the 22nd Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, pledging to focus fully on politics after his film commitments.