Ilayaraja & Bharathi Kannan Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-15 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Bharathi Kannan appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1998 and 2007. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thirunelveli (2000 — 6.8/10). Films span Kannathaal (1998) through Maya Kannadi (2007).
The Ilayaraja & Bharathi Kannan partnership
From Kannathaal (1998) to Maya Kannadi (2007). It started with Kannathaal (1998).
The shape of the work
The 2000s account for 75% of everything they made together. The 1990s belonged to Kannathaal; the 2000s to Thirunelveli. Never on the same side of the camera — Ilayaraja music composer, Bharathi Kannan director, across all 4 films. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
4 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
The 2000s accounted for 3 films, averaging 6.3/10.
- Kannathaal0
- Thirunelveli
- Maya Kannadi
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 9 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
57% of Bharathi Kannan's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. When they first worked together, Ilayaraja had 221 films behind them; Bharathi Kannan had 0.
Before Kannathaal, Ilayaraja had starred in 221 films, including Nadigan (1990) and Chinna Vathiyar (1995).
After Maya Kannadi, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 15 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
Kannathaal was Bharathi Kannan's directorial debut.
After Maya Kannadi, Bharathi Kannan went on to direct 3 more films, including Kayal (2014) and Kacheri Arambam (2010).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Bharathi Kannan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Karan is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 4 films.
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
Bose Venkat
Yuvan Shankar Raja
R. N. R. ManoharYuvan Shankar Raja
Venkat Prabhu
Santhanam
Ashvin Raja
Nassar
K 
Karunakaran
Mohamaad Ghibran