Ilayaraja & Rajesh Movies Together List — 17 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-15 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Rajesh appeared together in 17 Tamil films between 1980 and 2004. Their highest-rated collaboration was Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982 — 7.5/10). Films span Nan Nanedhan (1980) through Kamaraj (2004).
The Ilayaraja & Rajesh partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. After 8 years apart, they came back together for Ramana (2002). 1984 was their peak — 4 films in twelve months.
They didn't share a set between 1994 and 2002. For 24 years, a Ilayaraja–Rajesh film arrived almost every year.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 65% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Payanangal Mudivathillai; the 2000s to Kamaraj. Ilayaraja scored every film; Rajesh acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
17 films across 3 decades
The 1980s brought 11 films together, anchored by Payanangal Mudivathillai (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 4 films, averaging 4.2/10.
The 2000s accounted for 2 films, averaging 5.8/10.
- Payanangal Mudivathillai
- Metti
- Mahanadi
- Chinna Jameen
- Kamaraj
- Ramana
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
17 films across 24 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
40% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Rajesh.
Nan Nanedhan was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Kamaraj, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 26 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
Before Nan Nanedhan, Rajesh had starred in 1 film, including Kanni Paruvathile (1979).
After Kamaraj, Rajesh went on to appear in 17 more films, including Dharma Durai (2016) and Merry Christmas (2024).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Rajesh's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Goundamani appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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