Ilayaraja & K. K. Soundar Movies Together List — 6 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and K. K. Soundar appeared together in 6 Tamil films between 1979 and 1987. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nizhalgal (1980 — 8.5/10). Films span Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979) through Manaivi Ready (1987).
The Ilayaraja & K. K. Soundar partnership
Between 1979 and 1987, they barely worked apart — 6 films in 8 years. For 8 years, a Ilayaraja–K. film arrived almost every year. The work is uneven: Nizhalgal (8.5) at one end, Chinna Veedu (3.6) at the other.
From Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979) to Manaivi Ready (1987). Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 83% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Puthiya Vaarpugal; the 1980s to Nizhalgal. Ilayaraja scored every film; K. K. Soundar acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
6 films across 2 decades
The 1970s brought 1 film together, anchored by Puthiya Vaarpugal (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 5 films together, anchored by Nizhalgal (8.5/10).
- Puthiya Vaarpugal
- Nizhalgal
- Mundhanai Mudichu
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
6 films across 8 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
46% of K. K. Soundar's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Manaivi Ready, Ilayaraja kept going for 300 more films; K. K. Soundar stepped back.
Puthiya Vaarpugal was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Manaivi Ready, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 300 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Puthiya Vaarpugal, K. K. Soundar had starred in 2 films, including Sadhu Mirandal (1966) and Vallavan Oruvan (1966).
After Manaivi Ready, K. K. Soundar went on to appear in 5 more films, including Vaa Arugil Vaa (1991) and Nalla Kaalam Poranthachu (1990).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & K. K. Soundar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Janagaraj is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 6 films. Janagaraj appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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