Ilayaraja & S. S. Chandran Movies Together List — 25 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and S. S. Chandran appeared together in 25 Tamil films between 1982 and 2000. Their highest-rated collaboration was Ninaivu Chinnam (1989 — 8.0/10). Films span Pakkathu Veetu Roja (1982) through Thirunelveli (2000).
The Ilayaraja & S. S. Chandran partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. One film towers over the rest: Ninaivu Chinnam at 8.0/10. 1989 was their peak — 10 films in twelve months.
For 18 years, a Ilayaraja–S. film arrived almost every year. The work is uneven: Ninaivu Chinnam (8.0) at one end, Marudhani (1.0) at the other.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 76% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Ninaivu Chinnam; the 2000s to Thirunelveli. Ilayaraja scored every film; S. S. Chandran acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
25 films across 3 decades
The 1980s brought 19 films together, anchored by Ninaivu Chinnam (8.0/10).
The 1990s accounted for 5 films, averaging 4.3/10.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.8/10.
- Ninaivu Chinnam
- Soorakottai Singakutti
- Amaidhi Padai
- Periya Marudhu
- Thirunelveli
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
25 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
36% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with S. S. Chandran. After Thirunelveli, Ilayaraja kept going for 44 more films; S. S. Chandran stepped back.
Pakkathu Veetu Roja was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Thirunelveli, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 44 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Pakkathu Veetu Roja, S. S. Chandran had starred in 1 film, including Sivappu Malli (1981).
After Thirunelveli, S. S. Chandran went on to appear in 1 more film, including Seerivarum Kaalai (2001).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & S. S. Chandran's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 22 people again and again — a small repertory company. Goundamani appears alongside them in 8 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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