Ilayaraja & R. S. Manohar Movies Together List — 6 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and R. S. Manohar appeared together in 6 Tamil films between 1981 and 1992. Their highest-rated collaboration was Sankarlal (1981 — 7.5/10). Films span Sankarlal (1981) through Pagadai Panirendu (1992).
The Ilayaraja & R. S. Manohar partnership
From Sankarlal (1981) to Pagadai Panirendu (1992). The ran closed with Pagadai Panirendu in 1992. Sankarlal is the one most viewers reach for.
It started with Sankarlal (1981).
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 83% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Sankarlal; the 1990s to Pagadai Panirendu. Ilayaraja scored every film; R. S. Manohar acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
6 films across 2 decades
The 1980s brought 5 films together, anchored by Sankarlal (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
- Sankarlal
- Thanikattu Raja
- Pagadai Panirendu0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
6 films across 11 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; R. S. Manohar had 52. After Pagadai Panirendu, Ilayaraja kept going for 182 more films; R. S. Manohar stepped back.
Sankarlal was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Pagadai Panirendu, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 182 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Sankarlal, R. S. Manohar had starred in 52 films, including Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973) and Pattanathil Bhootham (1967).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & R. S. Manohar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
V. K. Ramasamy is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 6 films. V. K. Ramasamy appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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