Ilayaraja & Jai Ganesh Movies Together List — 13 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-02 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Jai Ganesh appeared together in 13 Tamil films between 1979 and 1994. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thaayillamal Naan Illai (1979 — 7.5/10). Films span Thaayillamal Naan Illai (1979) through Seeman (1994).
The Ilayaraja & Jai Ganesh partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1994 was their peak — 3 films in twelve months. For 15 years, a Ilayaraja–Jai film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Thaayillamal Naan Illai (7.5) at one end, Arangetra Velai (3.6) at the other. From Thaayillamal Naan Illai (1979) to Seeman (1994).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Thaayillamal Naan Illai; the 1990s to Seeman. Ilayaraja scored every film; Jai Ganesh acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
13 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 2 films together, anchored by Thaayillamal Naan Illai (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 4 films together, anchored by Nalla Naal (7.5/10).
The 1990s brought 7 films together, anchored by Seeman (7.5/10).
- Thaayillamal Naan Illai
- Naan Vazhavaippen
- Nalla Naal
- Per Sollum Pillai
- Seeman
- Vetri Padigal
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
13 films across 15 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
34% of Jai Ganesh's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Seeman, Ilayaraja kept going for 118 more films; Jai Ganesh stepped back.
Thaayillamal Naan Illai was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Seeman, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 118 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Thaayillamal Naan Illai, Jai Ganesh had starred in 5 films, including Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974) and Pattina Pravesam (1977).
After Seeman, Jai Ganesh went on to appear in 20 more films, including Johnny (2018) and Unnai Kann Theduthey (2000).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Jai Ganesh's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 6 people again and again — a small repertory company. Jaiganesh 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
