Ilayaraja & Sarath Babu Movies Together List — 17 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Sarath Babu appeared together in 17 Tamil films between 1978 and 2005. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nenjathai Killadhe (1980 — 8.5/10). Films span Mullum Malarum (1978) through Kasthuri Maan (2005).
The Ilayaraja & Sarath Babu partnership
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. 1980 was their peak — 3 films in twelve months. The work is uneven: Nenjathai Killadhe (8.5) at one end, Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil (1.0) at the other.
From Mullum Malarum (1978) to Kasthuri Maan (2005). Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu (1986, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 65% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Mullum Malarum; the 2000s to Kadhal Rojave. Ilayaraja scored every film; Sarath Babu acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
17 films across 4 decades
The 1970s brought 1 film together, anchored by Mullum Malarum (8.3/10).
The 1980s brought 11 films together, anchored by Nenjathai Killadhe (8.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 3 films, averaging 6.8/10.
The 2000s accounted for 2 films, averaging 4.9/10.
- Mullum Malarum
- Nenjathai Killadhe
- Bala Nagamma
- Kolangal
- Naangal0
- Kadhal Rojave
- Kasthuri Maan0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
17 films across 27 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
47% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Sarath Babu.
Mullum Malarum was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Kasthuri Maan, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 19 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
Before Mullum Malarum, Sarath Babu had starred in 1 film, including Pattina Pravesam (1977).
After Kasthuri Maan, Sarath Babu went on to appear in 21 more films, including Shirdi Sai (2012) and Por Thozhil (2023).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Sarath Babu's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Venniradai Moorthy appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
