Ilayaraja & Kumarimuthu Movies Together List — 12 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Kumarimuthu appeared together in 12 Tamil films between 1980 and 1996. Their highest-rated collaboration was Johnny (1980 — 7.5/10). Films span Johnny (1980) through Naatupura Paattu (1996).
The Ilayaraja & Kumarimuthu partnership
For 16 years, a Ilayaraja–Kumarimuthu film arrived almost every year. From Johnny (1980) to Naatupura Paattu (1996). Nandu (1981, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The played out closed with Naatupura Paattu in 1996. Johnny is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Johnny; the 1990s to Maamiyar Veedu. Ilayaraja scored every film; Kumarimuthu acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
12 films across 2 decades
The 1980s brought 6 films together, anchored by Johnny (7.5/10).
The 1990s brought 6 films together, anchored by Maamiyar Veedu (7.0/10).
- Johnny
- Nandu
- Maamiyar Veedu
- Irumbu Pookkal
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
12 films across 16 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
71% of Kumarimuthu's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Naatupura Paattu, Ilayaraja kept going for 88 more films; Kumarimuthu stepped back.
Johnny was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Naatupura Paattu, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 88 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Johnny was Kumarimuthu's acting debut.
After Naatupura Paattu, Kumarimuthu went on to appear in 5 more films, including Pallavan (2003) and Ninaivirukkum Varai (1999).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Kumarimuthu's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Venniradai Moorthy appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
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