51 Films Together
51 films·1976–1987·Top Music Composer: Sankar Ganesh (1 films)·Top co-star: Rajinikanth (17 films)
Ilayaraja & Thengai Srinivasan Movies Together List — 51 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Thengai Srinivasan appeared together in 51 Tamil films between 1976 and 1987. Their highest-rated collaboration was Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979 — 8.3/10). Films span Kalangalil Aval Vasantham (1976) through Krishnan Vandhan (1987).
51
Films Together
6.5
Average Rating
1976 - 1987
Career Span
Tamil
Primary Language
Credibility
Career Phase
Active×Active
The Ilayaraja & Thengai Srinivasan partnership
1982 was their peak — 9 films in twelve months. For 11 years, a Ilayaraja–Thengai film arrived almost every year. From Kalangalil Aval Vasantham (1976) to Krishnan Vandhan (1987).
Dharma Yuddham (1979, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue. Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 73% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai; the 1980s to Kazhugu. Ilayaraja scored every film; Thengai Srinivasan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
51 films across 2 decades
The 1970s brought 14 films together, anchored by Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (8.3/10).
The 1980s brought 37 films together, anchored by Kazhugu (7.5/10).
1970s
Films14
Avg Rating7.5/10
Notable:
- Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
- Priya
Era:
Ilayaraja: ActiveThengai: Active
1980s
Films37
Avg Rating6.2/10
Notable:
- Kazhugu
- Garjanai
Era:
Ilayaraja: ActiveThengai: Active
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
Duration1976–1987
Span11 years
51 films across 11 years represents focused partnership.
Language Distribution
Tamil51 films (100%)
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
53% of Thengai Srinivasan's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. When they first worked together, Ilayaraja had 0 films behind them; Thengai Srinivasan had 45. After Krishnan Vandhan, Ilayaraja kept going for 300 more films; Thengai Srinivasan stepped back.
Ilayaraja
Kalangalil Aval Vasantham was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Krishnan Vandhan, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 300 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Thengai Srinivasan
Before Kalangalil Aval Vasantham, Thengai Srinivasan had starred in 45 films, including Annai Velankanni (1971) and Rickshawkaran (1971).
Decade
#1→#2→#3→#4
→#6→#7→#9
→#15
→#18
→#23
→#25
→#28
→#31→#32
→#33
→#38→#39
→#44
→#51
K
Kalangalil Aval Vasantham
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
A
Alukoru Aasai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
S
Sayndhadamma Sayndhadu
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Priya
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 7.8
→#5I
Ithu Eppadi Irukku
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros Now
S
Sakka Podu Podu Raja
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
S
Sattam En Kaiyil
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onMX PlayerPrime Video
★ 6.5
→#8S
Sonnadhu Nee Dhanaa
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Thaayillamal Naan Illai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 7.5
→#10Dharma Yuddham
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onApple TV+Prime VideoYouTube
★ 7.5
→#11Naan Vazhavaippen
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayYouTube
★ 7.5
→#12Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayYouTube
★ 8.3
→#13V
Vetrikku Oruvan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 7.5
→#14A
Anbe Sangeetha
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
A
Anbukku Naan Adimai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTubeYuppTV
★ 6.5
→#16Murattu Kaalai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAhaPrime Video
★ 7.4
→#17O
Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Meendum Kokila
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onPrime Video
★ 7.3
→#19R
Ram Lakshman
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 6.5
→#20K
Kazhugu
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 7.5
→#21G
Garjanai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 7.5
→#22Kadal Meengal
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayHungama PlayVi Movies & TVYouTube
Thanikattu Raja
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onYouTube
★ 6.5
→#24Auto Raja
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlaySun NXTYouTube
Sakalakala Vallavan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 6.5
→#26Moondru Mugam
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 7.5
→#27R
Rani Theni
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onYouTube
Nenjangal
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 7.5
→#29A
Azhagiya Kanne
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 6.8
→#30M
Manjal Nila
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayApple TV+Eros NowPrime VideoYouTube
N
Nalanthana
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onYouTube
Vellai Roja
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Thanga Magan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 6.5
→#34Nooravathu Naal
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 7.5
→#35N
Nalla Naal
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowHungama PlayYouTube
★ 7.5
→#36Kai Kodukkum Kai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 6.8
→#37A
Alaya Deepam
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
K
Kuva Kuva Vaathugal
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Kaakki Sattai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 3.9
→#40Padikkaatha Pannaiyar
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 7.5
→#41Thendrale Ennai Thodu
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 6.5
→#42Naan Sigappu Manithan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 5.1
→#43P
Pillai Nila
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayYouTube
Sri Raghavendra
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowPrime VideoYouTube
★ 3.8
→#45Padikkadavan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onPrime Video
★ 5.0
→#46A
Andha Oru Nimidam
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onPrime Video
★ 4.4
→#47Maaveeran
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onPrime Video
★ 4.5
→#48M
Mandhira Punnagai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onJioHotstar
★ 3.7
→#49R
Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
★ 4.4
→#50M
Muthukkal Moondru
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
K
Krishnan Vandhan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerThengai Srinivasan · Actor
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowPrime VideoYouTube
★ 6.5
→Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Thengai Srinivasan's professional partnership
16
18
34
45
46
48
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 42 people again and again — a small repertory company. Rajinikanth appears alongside them in 17 films — practically a third lead.
17
11
10
10
9
9
8
8
7
7
6
6
6
55
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
43
3
33
33
3
3
33
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
22
2
2
2
2
8542
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