V. I. P. (1997 film)

Plot

Guru (Prabhu Deva) is a graduate but cannot find a job because employers are looking experience. He and his pickpocket and bike thief friend Indhu (Rambha) live along with an auto mechanic (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. Manivannan himself has seen his wife's face only during their first night. This provides comic relief.

Anupam Kher is a rich 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 and 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.

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

Cast

Production

Kalaipuli S. Thanu was approached by Mugur Sundaram to do a film for his son Prabhu Deva under his banner. Producer initially approached Vasanth to direct this film, Vasanth initially accepted but later opted out of the film as he was unsure about release date of the film. Newcomer Sasi Arundale was approached to direct but Prabhu Deva insisted Thanu to remove him as Thanu's name was left out from his poster designed by the director. SD Sabhapathi was later selected as director. 40 lakhs rupees was spent for building a set for a song sequence in AVM Studios.

Pooja Kumar, the first choice for a lead actress role, but walked out of the project due to date issues. Dhanu then approached Laila, who was left unimpressed when the producer asked her to consider changing her stagename 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. 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. 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". The project also became the first Indian film to have a trailer released online.

Release

The film did above average business, owing to the substantial size of the budget. 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 Devah. 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."

Soundtrack

There are 6 songs composed by Ranjit Barot and lyrics were written by Vairamuthu, Arivumathi, Pazhani Bharathi.