Ilayaraja & Raja Movies Together List — 11 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Raja appeared together in 11 Tamil films between 1986 and 2009. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kadalora Kavithaigal (1986 — 7.5/10). Films span Kadalora Kavithaigal (1986) through Jaganmohini (2009).
The Ilayaraja & Raja partnership
After 14 years apart, they came back together for Jaganmohini (2009). They didn't share a set between 1995 and 2009. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema.
The work is uneven: Kadalora Kavithaigal (7.5) at one end, Enga Muthalali (2.5) at the other. From Kadalora Kavithaigal (1986) to Jaganmohini (2009).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Kadalora Kavithaigal; the 2000s to Jaganmohini. Ilayaraja scored every film; Raja acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
11 films across 3 decades
The 1980s brought 5 films together, anchored by Kadalora Kavithaigal (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 5 films, averaging 5.4/10.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.8/10.
- Kadalora Kavithaigal
- Idhu Engal Needhi
- Kolangal
- Thuruva Natchathiram
- Jaganmohini
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
11 films across 23 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
65% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Raja.
Kadalora Kavithaigal was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Jaganmohini, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 6 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Shamitabh (2015).
Before Kadalora Kavithaigal, Raja had starred in 1 film, including Anu (1982).
After Jaganmohini, Raja went on to appear in 6 more films, including Inkosari (2010) and FCUK: Father Chitti Umaa Kaarthik (2021).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Raja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Nizhalgal Ravi appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
3
2
2
22
2
2
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
Mansoor Ali KhanVijayakanth
M. N. Nambiar
Pandari BaiSathyaraj
Manorama
Ilayaraja
V. S. Raghavan
V. K. RamasamyPandari BaiNassar
Arvind Swamy