Ilayaraja & Senthamarai Movies Together List — 24 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-03 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Senthamarai appeared together in 24 Tamil films between 1977 and 1990. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kavikkuyil (1977 — 7.5/10). Films span Kavikkuyil (1977) through Panakkaran (1990).
The Ilayaraja & Senthamarai partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1984 was their peak — 5 films in twelve months. For 13 years, a Ilayaraja–Senthamarai film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Kavikkuyil (7.5) at one end, Paandi Nattu Thangam (2.9) at the other. From Kavikkuyil (1977) to Panakkaran (1990).
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 88% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Kavikkuyil; the 1990s to Panakkaran. Ilayaraja scored every film; Senthamarai acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
24 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 2 films together, anchored by Kavikkuyil (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 21 films together, anchored by Kazhugu (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.2/10.
- Kavikkuyil
- Naan Vazhavaippen
- Kazhugu
- Nandu
- Panakkaran
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
24 films across 13 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
62% of Senthamarai's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Panakkaran, Ilayaraja kept going for 258 more films; Senthamarai stepped back.
Kavikkuyil was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Panakkaran, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 258 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Kavikkuyil, Senthamarai had starred in 14 films, including Arangetram (1973) and Shanti Nilayam (1969).
After Panakkaran, Senthamarai went on to appear in 1 more film, including Rudhra (1991).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Senthamarai's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 19 people again and again — a small repertory company. Rajinikanth appears alongside them in 11 films — practically a third lead.
11
6
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
33
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
222
2
232
2
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