Ilayaraja & T. N. Balu Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-19 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and T. N. Balu appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 1977 and 1981. Their highest-rated collaboration was Sankarlal (1981 — 7.5/10). Films span Odi Vilayadu Thatha (1977) through Sankarlal (1981).
The Ilayaraja & T. N. Balu partnership
From Odi Vilayadu Thatha (1977) to Sankarlal (1981). Sankarlal is the one most viewers reach for. The played out closed with Sankarlal in 1981.
It started with Odi Vilayadu Thatha (1977).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Sattam En Kaiyil; the 1980s to Sankarlal. Ilayaraja scored every film; T. N. Balu directed all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
3 films across 2 decades
The 1970s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.5/10.
The 1980s brought 1 film together, anchored by Sankarlal (7.5/10).
- Sattam En Kaiyil
- Odi Vilayadu Thatha0
- Sankarlal
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 4 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
33% of T. N. Balu's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Sankarlal, Ilayaraja kept going for 300 more films; T. N. Balu stepped back.
Odi Vilayadu Thatha was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Sankarlal, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 300 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Odi Vilayadu Thatha, T. N. Balu had directed 5 films, including Dheiva Thaai (1964) and Meendum Vazhven (1971).
After Sankarlal, T. N. Balu went on to direct 1 more film, including Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya (1982).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & T. N. Balu's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Kamal Haasan is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 3 films.
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