Ilayaraja & Sivakumar Movies Together List — 51 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Sivakumar appeared together in 51 Tamil films between 1976 and 2000. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kavikkuyil (1977 — 7.5/10). Films span Bhadrakali (1976) through Ilayavan (2000).
The Ilayaraja & Sivakumar partnership
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. 1979 was their peak — 5 films in twelve months. For 24 years, a Ilayaraja–Sivakumar film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Kavikkuyil (7.5) at one end, Manidha Jathi (3.5) at the other. From Bhadrakali (1976) to Ilayavan (2000).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Kavikkuyil; the 2000s to Ilayavan. Ilayaraja scored every film; Sivakumar acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
51 films across 4 decades
The 1970s brought 12 films together, anchored by Kavikkuyil (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 26 films together, anchored by Anandha Ragam (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 12 films, averaging 5.3/10.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film.
- Kavikkuyil
- Bhadrakali0
- Anandha Ragam
- Manidhanin Marupakkam
- Pillai Paasam
- Raman Abdullah
- Ilayavan0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
51 films across 24 years represents focused partnership.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
54% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Sivakumar. When they first worked together, Ilayaraja had 0 films behind them; Sivakumar had 45. After Ilayavan, Ilayaraja kept going for 44 more films; Sivakumar stepped back.
Bhadrakali was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Ilayavan, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 44 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Bhadrakali, Sivakumar had starred in 45 films, including Arangetram (1973) and Annai Velankanni (1971).
After Ilayavan, Sivakumar went on to appear in 11 more films, including Kathir (2022) and Meeku Maathrame Cheptha (2019).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Sivakumar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 15 people again and again — a small repertory company. Raadhika Sarathkumar appears alongside them in 6 films — practically a third lead.
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