P. Vasu & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 19 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
P. Vasu and Ilayaraja appeared together in 19 Tamil films between 1981 and 2000. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nadigan (1990 — 7.7/10). Films span Panneer Pushpangal (1981) through Kakkai Siraginilae (2000).
The P. Vasu & Ilayaraja partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1992 was their peak — 4 films in twelve months. For 19 years, a P.–Ilayaraja film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Nadigan (7.7) at one end, Walter Vetrivel (3.5) at the other. From Panneer Pushpangal (1981) to Kakkai Siraginilae (2000).
The shape of the work
The 1990s account for 74% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Panneer Pushpangal; the 2000s to Kakkai Siraginilae. P. Vasu directed every film; Ilayaraja scored all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
19 films across 3 decades
The 1980s brought 4 films together, anchored by Panneer Pushpangal (7.5/10).
The 1990s brought 14 films together, anchored by Nadigan (7.7/10).
The 2000s brought 1 film together, anchored by Kakkai Siraginilae (7.5/10).
- Panneer Pushpangal
- Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai
- Nadigan
- Udan Pirappu
- Kakkai Siraginilae
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
19 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
50% of P. Vasu's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Kakkai Siraginilae, Ilayaraja kept going for 44 more films; P. Vasu stepped back.
Panneer Pushpangal was P. Vasu's directorial debut.
After Kakkai Siraginilae, P. Vasu went on to direct 19 more films, including Sivalinga (2017) and Chandramukhi (2005).
Panneer Pushpangal 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 P. Vasu & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Goundamani is the through-line — cast on 12 of their 19 films. They worked with the same 13 people again and again — a small repertory company. Goundamani appears alongside them in 12 films — practically a third lead.
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2Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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