Rekha & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 12 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Rekha and Ilayaraja appeared together in 12 Tamil films between 1986 and 2017. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kadalora Kavithaigal (1986 — 7.5/10). Films span Punnagai Mannan (1986) through Muthuramalingam (2017).
The Rekha & Ilayaraja partnership
After 12 years apart, they came back together for Madhu (2006). They didn't share a set between 1994 and 2006. Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema.
The work is uneven: Kadalora Kavithaigal (7.5) at one end, Thirumathi Palanisamy (2.5) at the other. From Punnagai Mannan (1986) to Muthuramalingam (2017).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Kadalora Kavithaigal; the 2010s to Shamitabh. Rekha acted in every film; Ilayaraja scored all of them.
12 films across 4 decades
The 1980s brought 5 films together, anchored by Kadalora Kavithaigal (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 4 films, averaging 4.7/10.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.5/10.
The 2010s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.2/10.
- Kadalora Kavithaigal
- En Bommukutty Ammavukku
- Irumbu Pookkal
- Guna
- Madhu
- Shamitabh
- Muthuramalingam
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
12 films across 31 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
92% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Rekha. When they first worked together, Rekha had 47 films behind them; Ilayaraja had 0.
Before Punnagai Mannan, Rekha had starred in 47 films, including Tarang (1984) and Kalyug (1981).
Punnagai Mannan was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Muthuramalingam, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 1 more film, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Rekha & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Reka is the through-line — cast on 7 of their 12 films. Reka appears alongside them in 7 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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