Once More is a 1997 Tamil romantic comedy film directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar. It stars Vijay with Sivaji Ganesan, Simran and S. A. Chandrasekhar. Music by Deva. It was released on 4 July 1997.
Vijay is a carefree young man running a large tea estate in Ooty whose mismanagement has run up heavy losses. He calls his father back from the US to sign crucial documents, but the father is killed in a plane crash on the way. On his uncle Ashok's advice, Vijay hires Selvam, an elderly resident of a Coimbatore old-age home, to pose as his father. As the two grow close, Vijay learns that Selvam has been separated from his wife Shantha for 34 years and sets out to reunite them, while also falling for Kavitha, who holds a grudge against him over her sister's death.
Vijay plays a happy-go-lucky estate owner who hires a stand-in father and ends up reuniting an estranged old couple. Sharing the screen with Sivaji Ganesan gave the young actor valuable prestige, and the film's success added to his run of family entertainers.
Figures are trade estimates reported at the time and may vary.
Vijay shares the screen with thespian Sivaji Ganesan and veteran B. Saroja Devi.
S. A. Chandrasekhar persuaded Sivaji Ganesan to take the role after Sathya Sai Baba advised Ganesan to keep acting.
Footage from Iruvar Ullam (1963), starring Ganesan and Saroja Devi, is used as flashbacks for their characters; Saroja Devi considered the film a sequel to it.
One of two Tamil debuts for Simran, both released on 4 July 1997 (the other being V.I.P.).
Vijay sang 'Oormila Oormila' with his mother Shoba Chandrasekhar.
Made on a reported budget of ₹50 lakh and grossed a reported ₹8.95 crore.
Directed by Vijay's father S. A. Chandrasekhar, who also voices Vijay's father in the film.
Remade in Telugu as Daddy Daddy (1998).
Audio rights were held by Pyramid Audio and Music Master.
News18 marked the film's 25th anniversary in July 2022.
The film was received as a light family entertainer. The New Straits Times called it a "good family entertainer" and singled out Sivaji Ganesan, while Ananda Vikatan rated it 39/100.
Remembered as the film that paired Vijay with Sivaji Ganesan and launched Simran in Tamil; it was remade in Telugu and marked by media on its 25th anniversary.