Ilayaraja & Gemini Ganesan Movies Together List — 5 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-16 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Gemini Ganesan appeared together in 5 Tamil films between 1983 and 1999. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thodarum (1999 — 6.8/10). Films span Soorakottai Singakutti (1983) through Thodarum (1999).
The Ilayaraja & Gemini Ganesan partnership
After 10 years apart, they came back together for Thodarum (1999). They didn't share a set between 1989 and 1999. They saved their best for last — Thodarum (6.8/10) came 16 years in.
From Soorakottai Singakutti (1983) to Thodarum (1999). It started with Soorakottai Singakutti (1983).
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 80% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Soorakottai Singakutti; the 1990s to Thodarum. Ilayaraja scored every film; Gemini Ganesan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
5 films across 2 decades
The 1980s accounted for 4 films, averaging 5.3/10.
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.8/10.
- Soorakottai Singakutti
- Unnal Mudiyum Thambi
- Thodarum
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
5 films across 16 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
When they first worked together, Ilayaraja had 0 films behind them; Gemini Ganesan had 104. After Thodarum, Ilayaraja kept going for 53 more films; Gemini Ganesan stepped back.
Soorakottai Singakutti was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Thodarum, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 53 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Soorakottai Singakutti, Gemini Ganesan had starred in 104 films, including Pasamalar (1961) and Annai Velankanni (1971).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Gemini Ganesan 's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
V. K. Ramasamy is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 5 films. V. K. Ramasamy appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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