Ilayaraja & Ganthimathi Movies Together List — 18 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-19 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Ganthimathi appeared together in 18 Tamil films between 1979 and 2004. Their highest-rated collaboration was Moodupani (1980 — 7.8/10). Films span Agal Vilakku (1979) through Virumaandi (2004).
The Ilayaraja & Ganthimathi partnership
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. After 9 years apart, they came back together for Virumaandi (2004). They didn't share a set between 1995 and 2004.
For 25 years, a Ilayaraja–Ganthimathi film arrived almost every year. The work is uneven: Moodupani (7.8) at one end, Walter Vetrivel (3.5) at the other.
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Agal Vilakku; the 2000s to Virumaandi. Ilayaraja scored every film; Ganthimathi acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
18 films across 4 decades
The 1970s accounted for 1 film.
The 1980s brought 9 films together, anchored by Moodupani (7.8/10).
The 1990s accounted for 7 films, averaging 4.5/10.
The 2000s brought 1 film together, anchored by Virumaandi (7.6/10).
- Agal Vilakku0
- Moodupani
- Mann Vasanai
- Thevar Magan
- Amaidhi Padai
- Virumaandi
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
18 films across 25 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
41% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Ganthimathi. After Virumaandi, Ilayaraja kept going for 26 more films; Ganthimathi stepped back.
Agal Vilakku was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Virumaandi, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 26 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
Before Agal Vilakku, Ganthimathi had starred in 10 films, including Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram (1977) and Naan Avanillai (1974).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Ganthimathi's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 5 people again and again — a small repertory company. Nassar appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
