Chinni Jayanth & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 26 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Chinni Jayanth and Ilayaraja appeared together in 26 Tamil films between 1984 and 2017. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nadigan (1990 — 7.7/10). Films span Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984) through Muthuramalingam (2017).
The Chinni Jayanth & Ilayaraja partnership
After 21 years apart, they came back together for Muthuramalingam (2017). They didn't share a set between 1996 and 2017. 1990 was their peak — 5 films in twelve months.
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. For 33 years, a Chinni–Ilayaraja film arrived almost every year.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Muthal Vasantham; the 2010s to Muthuramalingam. Chinni Jayanth acted in every film; Ilayaraja scored all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
26 films across 3 decades
The 1980s brought 10 films together, anchored by Muthal Vasantham (7.5/10).
The 1990s brought 15 films together, anchored by Nadigan (7.7/10).
The 2010s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.8/10.
- Muthal Vasantham
- Kai Kodukkum Kai
- Nadigan
- Chinna Vathiyar
- Muthuramalingam
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
26 films across 33 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
74% of Chinni Jayanth's screen credits are with Ilayaraja.
Kai Kodukkum Kai was Chinni Jayanth's acting debut.
After Muthuramalingam, Chinni Jayanth went on to appear in 9 more films, including Boat (2024) and Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir (2023).
Kai Kodukkum Kai 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 Chinni Jayanth & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Senthil appears alongside them in 7 films — practically a third lead. They worked with the same 21 people again and again — a small repertory company.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
