Ilayaraja & Cho Movies Together List — 5 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-14 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Cho appeared together in 5 Tamil films between 1978 and 1988. Their highest-rated collaboration was Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979 — 8.3/10). Films span Allidharbar (1978) through Guru Sishyan (1988).
The Ilayaraja & Cho partnership
One film towers over the rest: Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai at 8.3/10. From Allidharbar (1978) to Guru Sishyan (1988). The spanned closed with Guru Sishyan in 1988.
Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai is the one most viewers reach for. It started with Allidharbar (1978).
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 60% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai; the 1980s to Adutha Varisu. Ilayaraja scored every film; Cho acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
5 films across 2 decades
The 1970s brought 2 films together, anchored by Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (8.3/10).
The 1980s accounted for 3 films, averaging 5.8/10.
- Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
- Allidharbar0
- Adutha Varisu
- Guru Sishyan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
5 films across 10 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; Cho had 38. After Guru Sishyan, Ilayaraja kept going for 300 more films; Cho stepped back.
Allidharbar was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Guru Sishyan, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 300 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Allidharbar, Cho had starred in 38 films, including Muhammad bin Tughluq (1971) and Muhammad bin Tughluq (1971).
After Guru Sishyan, Cho went on to appear in 1 more film, including Paalam (1990).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Cho's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Rajinikanth is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 5 films. Rajinikanth appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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