V. I. P. (1997 film)

Guru (Prabhu Deva) is a graduate but cannot find a job because employers are looking for experience. He and his pickpocket and bike thief friend Indhu (Rambha) live along with the mechanic Nizam Bhai (Manivannan) and his wife. The couple is a Muslim, and the lady wears a purdah, and it is shown that whoever lifts her purdah and sees her face faints immediately. Nizam Bhai himself has seen his wife's face only during their first night. This provides comic relief.

Anupam Kher is a wealthy businessman, but his business is about to topple when he invites his nephew Santhosh (Abbas) from the US to save it from loss. Priya (Simran) is his daughter, and she expects to marry Santhosh when he arrives. Meanwhile, Guru steals a car from a businessman who refused to employ him and when the goondas chase, he and Indhu enter into the airport. In a series of comic events, Guru ends up in Priya's house as Santhosh, and Santhosh, who tries to save Indhu, lands up with her in Mizoram.

The businessman introduces Guru (now Santhosh) as the new managing director of the company to his employees. He also encourages Santhosh to take up the new assignment. Guru, who is a talented youth, works hard and brings the company back to business; meanwhile, the real Santhosh struggles with Indhu to get back home. When Santhosh gets back to Chennai, he collects his bags and passport from the airport.

By now, Santhosh has fallen in love with Indhu, and Priya has fallen in love with Guru. Indhu and Guru meet up and find out about Guru acting as Santhosh and that the real Santhosh is with Indhu. When Santhosh finds out that Guru has taken the company to greater heights than he would have, he accepts Guru as his friend and does not reveal his true identity to his uncle's family. In the end, all confusions are cleared, and the lovers unite.

Tomb of Hayath Bakshi Begum in Hyderabad, Telangana, India seen in the song "Minnal Oru Kodi".

Pooja Kumar, the first choice for a lead actress role, but walked out of the project due to date issues. Producer Thanu then approached Laila, who was left unimpressed when the producer asked her to consider changing her stage name to Pooja, as the invitations for the film had already been printed. Laila also revealed her unawareness of Rambha also being a part of the film. Laila subsequently dropped out of the project, wanting to make her Tamil debut in a film where she played the sole heroine.[1][2] The film consequently marked the debut of actress Simran in Tamil films, with V.I.P and her other film, Once More both releasing on July 4, 1997.[3] Both Ranjit Barot and Shankar Mahadevan were initially selected as composers but due to misunderstanding Shankar left the film but composed two songs "Minnal Oru Kodi" and "Netru No No".[4] The project also became the first Indian film to have a trailer released online.[5]

The film score and the soundtrack were composed by film composer Ranjit Barot. The soundtrack features 6 tracks with lyrics written by Vairamuthu, Arivumathi and Palani Bharathi.[6]

The film did above average business, owing to the substantial size of the budget.[7][8] Indolink.com described the film as "probably the feel good movie of the year thus far", adding that "this movie is important as its probably the coming of age for Prabhu Deva. He has definitely matured since his Kadhalan days and shows a lot more restraint and a little flair for comedy. Thankfully, not much is required from Abbas or Simran in the acting department."[9]