Ilayaraja & Nagesh Movies Together List — 14 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-03 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Nagesh appeared together in 14 Tamil films between 1977 and 1998. Their highest-rated collaboration was Dheepam (1977 — 7.5/10). Films span Dheepam (1977) through Desiya Geetham (1998).
The Ilayaraja & Nagesh partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. From Dheepam (1977) to Desiya Geetham (1998). Thaayillamal Naan Illai (1979, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
Dheepam is the one most viewers reach for. The spanned closed with Desiya Geetham in 1998.
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Dheepam; the 1990s to Michael Madana Kama Rajan. Ilayaraja scored every film; Nagesh acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
14 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 2 films together, anchored by Dheepam (7.5/10).
The 1980s accounted for 7 films, averaging 5.7/10.
The 1990s accounted for 5 films, averaging 5.8/10.
- Dheepam
- Thaayillamal Naan Illai
- Anbukku Naan Adimai
- Magudi
- Michael Madana Kama Rajan
- Magalir Mattum
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
14 films across 21 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
When they first worked together, Ilayaraja had 0 films behind them; Nagesh had 204. After Desiya Geetham, Ilayaraja kept going for 66 more films; Nagesh stepped back.
Dheepam was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Desiya Geetham, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 66 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Dheepam, Nagesh had starred in 204 films, including Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) and Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (1976).
After Desiya Geetham, Nagesh went on to appear in 17 more films, including Kadhal Kondein (2003) and Vasool Raja MBBS (2004).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Nagesh's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 13 people again and again — a small repertory company. Kamal Haasan appears alongside them in 5 films — practically a third lead.
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2