Thalaivasal Vijay & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 20 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Thalaivasal Vijay and Ilayaraja appeared together in 20 Tamil films between 1988 and 2006. Their highest-rated collaboration was Mugam (1999 — 7.5/10). Films span Ullathil Nalla Ullam (1988) through Madhu (2006).
The Thalaivasal Vijay & Ilayaraja partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1994 was their peak — 4 films in twelve months. For 18 years, a Thalaivasal–Ilayaraja film arrived almost every year.
From Ullathil Nalla Ullam (1988) to Madhu (2006). Mugam is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1990s account for 60% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Ullathil Nalla Ullam; the 2000s to Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam. Thalaivasal Vijay acted in every film; Ilayaraja scored all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
20 films across 3 decades
The 1980s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.7/10.
The 1990s brought 12 films together, anchored by Mugam (7.5/10).
The 2000s brought 7 films together, anchored by Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam (7.2/10).
- Ullathil Nalla Ullam
- Mugam
- Maamiyar Veedu
- Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam
- Madhu
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
20 films across 18 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
53% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Thalaivasal Vijay. After Madhu, Thalaivasal Vijay kept going for 58 more films; Ilayaraja stepped back.
Ullathil Nalla Ullam was Thalaivasal Vijay's acting debut.
After Madhu, Thalaivasal Vijay went on to appear in 58 more films, including Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad (2024) and Kaithi (2019).
Ullathil Nalla Ullam was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Madhu, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 18 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Thalaivasal Vijay & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 12 people again and again — a small repertory company. Nassar 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
