Lakshmi & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 21 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-18 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Lakshmi and Ilayaraja appeared together in 21 Tamil films between 1978 and 2000. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nenjangal (1982 — 7.5/10). Films span Thyagam (1978) through Kakkai Siraginilae (2000).
The Lakshmi & Ilayaraja partnership
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. 1988 was their peak — 4 films in twelve months. For 22 years, a Lakshmi–Ilayaraja film arrived almost every year.
From Thyagam (1978) to Kakkai Siraginilae (2000). Kakkai Siraginilae (2000, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 71% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Thyagam; the 2000s to Kakkai Siraginilae. Lakshmi acted in every film; Ilayaraja scored all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
21 films across 4 decades
The 1970s accounted for 2 films.
The 1980s brought 15 films together, anchored by Nenjangal (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 3 films, averaging 5.5/10.
The 2000s brought 1 film together, anchored by Kakkai Siraginilae (7.5/10).
- Thyagam0
- Achani0
- Nenjangal
- Udaya Geetham
- Veera Thalattu
- Sir I Love You0
- Kakkai Siraginilae
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
21 films across 22 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
32% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Lakshmi. When they first worked together, Lakshmi had 50 films behind them; Ilayaraja had 0. After Kakkai Siraginilae, Ilayaraja kept going for 44 more films; Lakshmi stepped back.
Before Thyagam, Lakshmi had starred in 50 films, including Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (1976) and Naan Avanillai (1974).
After Kakkai Siraginilae, Lakshmi went on to appear in 20 more films, including Midhunam (2012) and Ayya (2005).
Thyagam was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Kakkai Siraginilae, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 44 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Lakshmi & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 7 people again and again — a small repertory company. Prabhu appears alongside them in 5 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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