Pandu & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 22 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-19 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Pandu and Ilayaraja appeared together in 22 Tamil films between 1988 and 2007. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nadigan (1990 — 7.7/10). Films span En Uyir Kannamma (1988) through Inimey Nangathan (2007).
The Pandu & Ilayaraja partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1990 was their peak — 4 films in twelve months. For 19 years, a Pandu–Ilayaraja film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Nadigan (7.7) at one end, Thirumathi Palanisamy (2.5) at the other. From En Uyir Kannamma (1988) to Inimey Nangathan (2007).
The shape of the work
The 1990s account for 77% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Poovizhi Raja; the 2000s to Azhagi. Pandu acted in every film; Ilayaraja scored all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
22 films across 3 decades
The 1980s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.8/10.
The 1990s brought 17 films together, anchored by Nadigan (7.7/10).
The 2000s accounted for 3 films, averaging 4.6/10.
- Poovizhi Raja
- En Uyir Kannamma0
- Nadigan
- Mayabazar
- Azhagi
- Inimey Nangathan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
22 films across 19 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
42% of Pandu's screen credits are with Ilayaraja.
Before En Uyir Kannamma, Pandu had starred in 1 film, including Maanavan (1970).
After Inimey Nangathan, Pandu went on to appear in 29 more films, including Thoonga Nagaram (2011) and Panjumittai (2018).
En Uyir Kannamma was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Inimey Nangathan, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 15 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Pandu & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 14 people again and again — a small repertory company. Kushboo appears alongside them in 7 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
