Ilayaraja & Vijayakumar Movies Together List — 45 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Vijayakumar appeared together in 45 Tamil films between 1976 and 2007. Their highest-rated collaboration was Ninaivu Chinnam (1989 — 8.0/10). Films span Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu (1976) through Kuttrapathirikai (2007).
The Ilayaraja & Vijayakumar partnership
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. 1978 was their peak — 5 films in twelve months. For 31 years, a Ilayaraja–Vijayakumar film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Ninaivu Chinnam (8.0) at one end, Muthu Kaalai (1.0) at the other. From Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu (1976) to Kuttrapathirikai (2007).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Dheepam; the 2000s to Kamaraj. Ilayaraja scored every film; Vijayakumar acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
45 films across 4 decades
The 1970s brought 13 films together, anchored by Dheepam (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 6 films together, anchored by Ninaivu Chinnam (8.0/10).
The 1990s brought 24 films together, anchored by Vetri Karangal (7.5/10).
The 2000s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.2/10.
- Dheepam
- Pagalil Oru Iravu
- Ninaivu Chinnam
- Nenjangal
- Vetri Karangal
- Thanga Manasukkaran
- Kamaraj
- Kuttrapathirikai
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
45 films across 31 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
75% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Vijayakumar. After Kuttrapathirikai, Vijayakumar kept going for 31 more films; Ilayaraja stepped back.
Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Kuttrapathirikai, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 15 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
Before Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu, Vijayakumar had starred in 6 films, including Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974) and Pattum Bharathamum (1975).
After Kuttrapathirikai, Vijayakumar went on to appear in 31 more films, including Entha Manchivaadavuraa (2020) and Chennaiyil Oru Naal (2013).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Vijayakumar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 34 people again and again — a small repertory company. Goundamani appears alongside them in 11 films — practically a third lead.
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