Aravindan, Chandru and Krishnamoorthy value friendship over everything else, even family. For this reason, Chandru resists the advances of Aravindan's sister Amutha. When the trio takes up a painter's job at a mansion under contractor Nesamani, Krishnamoorthy's paternal uncle, Aravindan falls in love with Padmini, who lives there. Padmini's jealous cousin Abhirami makes him believe that his overtures are reciprocated. When the truth is revealed and Padmini rejects him outright, Chandru stands up for his friend and speaks ill of her. This makes her swear to separate the friends. After the marriage, Aravindan realises the hand of Abhirami behind all the mishaps, and Padmini too realizes that Chandru is innocent. Then, Chandru and Amutha's marriage is arranged. Gautham is Aravindan's cousin who is in love with Amutha and wants to separate the pair. He makes Chandru believe that Padmini is trying to kill Amutha. Padmini is now angry with Chandru. At last, Aravindan tells the truth that in their young ages, he unknowingly killed Chandru's deaf and mute brother. Gautham records this truth and makes Chandru hear it. Chandru and Aravindan then fight and go by their ways. Aravindan tries to convince Chandru but falls from the top of a mountain. Chandru then believes that Aravindan is dead, but after five years, he is a major in the Indian Army and finds out through a letter from Krishnamurthy telling that Aravindan is not dead but has ended up in a coma. Unfortunately, Gautham is now torturing his family a lot. When he comes to know that Chandru has come back to Meenakshipuram, he starts to beat him up. After hearing Chandru's cry of pain, Aravindan wakes up from his coma. Finally, Aravindan beats up Gautham, and everyone rejoins and lives happily.
After their teaming in Nerukku Ner, Vijay and Suriya came together again in this film, a remake of a successful Malayalam film of the same name that was produced by actress Saritha, and had her husband Mukesh co-starring with Jayaram. Siddique who directed the original has directed the Tamil version too. Ramesh Khanna was selected to play the role which was enacted by Sreenivasan in original. First Meena was approached to play the female lead as she did the Malayalam version. Due to dates problem, she could not be part of it. Then Jyothika was signed with Suvalakshmi to play the lead actresses in the film but soon Simran replaced Jyothika. Both Simran and Suvalakshmi also then too backed out due to date problems and were replaced by Devayani and new girl Vijayalakshmi from Mysore. Shooting was held in a fast pace on location in Ooty, Pollachi, Pazhani and Udumalaipettai. The song 'Thendral Varum Vazhiye' is shot in New Zealand, etc.
Soundtrack
The film featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja received positive response and topped the charts. All lyrics of the songs were penned by Palani Bharathi.
Critical response
Friends was released on 14 January 2001, Thai Pongal day. Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu stated, "With friendship as the theme, Siddique presents a decent entertainer, which of course could have been crisper." Despite facing competition from Dheena, released on the same day, the film emerged a commercial success, running for more than 175 days in theatres.
