Ilayaraja & Suruli rajan Movies Together List — 20 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Suruli rajan appeared together in 20 Tamil films between 1977 and 1985. Their highest-rated collaboration was Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979 — 8.3/10). Films span Dheepam (1977) through Andhasthu (1985).
The Ilayaraja & Suruli rajan partnership
Between 1977 and 1985, they barely worked apart — 20 films in 8 years. 1980 was their peak — 7 films in twelve months. For 8 years, a Ilayaraja–Suruli film arrived almost every year.
Remarkably even — every film rates between 6.5 and 8.3. From Dheepam (1977) to Andhasthu (1985).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai; the 1980s to Johnny. Ilayaraja scored every film; Suruli rajan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
20 films across 2 decades
The 1970s brought 9 films together, anchored by Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (8.3/10).
The 1980s brought 11 films together, anchored by Johnny (7.5/10).
- Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
- Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala
- Johnny
- Sankarlal
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
20 films across 8 years represents focused partnership.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
57% of Suruli rajan's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Andhasthu, Ilayaraja kept going for 300 more films; Suruli rajan stepped back.
Dheepam was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Andhasthu, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 300 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Dheepam, Suruli rajan had starred in 15 films, including Alaigal (1973) and Thunive Thunai (1976).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Suruli rajan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Rajinikanth is the through-line — cast on 10 of their 20 films. Rajinikanth appears alongside them in 10 films — practically a third lead. They worked with the same 15 people again and again — a small repertory company.
10
9
7
7
6
5
4
4
3
3
33
32
2
222
22
2
2
2
2
2
34
2
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