Ilayaraja & Major Sundarrajan Movies Together List — 25 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Major Sundarrajan appeared together in 25 Tamil films between 1976 and 1995. Their highest-rated collaboration was Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala (1978 — 7.8/10). Films span Bhadrakali (1976) through Raja Muthirai (1995).
The Ilayaraja & Major Sundarrajan partnership
After 10 years apart, they came back together for Raja Muthirai (1995). They didn't share a set between 1985 and 1995. 1979 was their peak — 6 films in twelve months.
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. For 19 years, a Ilayaraja–Major film arrived almost every year.
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala; the 1990s to Raja Muthirai. Major Sundarrajan actor in some, director in others. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
25 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 12 films together, anchored by Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala (7.8/10).
The 1980s brought 12 films together, anchored by Garjanai (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
- Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala
- Priya
- Garjanai
- Nenjangal
- Raja Muthirai0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
25 films across 19 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; Major Sundarrajan had 67. After Raja Muthirai, Ilayaraja kept going for 95 more films; Major Sundarrajan stepped back.
Bhadrakali was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Raja Muthirai, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 95 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Bhadrakali, Major Sundarrajan had starred in 67 films, including Major Chandrakanth (1966) and Server Sundaram (1964).
After Raja Muthirai, Major Sundarrajan went on to appear in 6 more films, including Iruvar (1997) and Marumalarchi (1998).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Major Sundarrajan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Thengai Srinivasan appears alongside them in 11 films — practically a third lead. They worked with the same 18 people again and again — a small repertory company.
11
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7
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6
6
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4
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3
33
3
32
22
22
2
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2
2
2
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2
322
22Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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