44 Films Together
44 films·1973–1992·Top Music Composer: Karthik Raja (1 films)·Top co-star: Rajinikanth (20 films)
Ilayaraja & S. P. Muthuraman Movies Together List — 44 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and S. P. Muthuraman appeared together in 44 Tamil films between 1973 and 1992. Their highest-rated collaboration was Enakkul Oruvan (1984 — 8.5/10). Films span Petha Manam Pithu (1973) through Pandiyan (1992).
44
Films Together
5.8
Average Rating
1973 - 1992
Career Span
Tamil
Primary Language
Credibility
Career Phase
Active×Active
Long-Term Partnership
The Ilayaraja & S. P. Muthuraman partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1985 was their peak — 6 films in twelve months. For 19 years, a Ilayaraja–S. film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Enakkul Oruvan (8.5) at one end, Nalla Thambi (1.0) at the other. From Petha Manam Pithu (1973) to Pandiyan (1992).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai; the 1990s to Athisaya Piravi. Ilayaraja scored every film; S. P. Muthuraman directed all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
44 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 15 films together, anchored by Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (8.3/10).
The 1980s brought 26 films together, anchored by Enakkul Oruvan (8.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 3 films, averaging 4.1/10.
1970s
Films15
Avg Rating7.9/10
Notable:
- Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
- Priya
Era:
Ilayaraja: ActiveS.: Active
1980s
Films26
Avg Rating5.7/10
Notable:
- Enakkul Oruvan
- Nallavanuku Nallavan
Era:
Ilayaraja: ActiveS.: Active
1990s
Films3
Avg Rating4.1/10
Notable:
- Athisaya Piravi
- Pandiyan
Era:
Ilayaraja: ActiveS.: Active
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
Duration1973–1992
Span19 years
44 films across 19 years represents focused partnership.
Language Distribution
Tamil44 films (100%)
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
96% of S. P. Muthuraman's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Pandiyan, Ilayaraja kept going for 182 more films; S. P. Muthuraman stepped back.
Ilayaraja
Petha Manam Pithu was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Pandiyan, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 182 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
S. P. Muthuraman
Before Petha Manam Pithu, S. P. Muthuraman had directed 1 film, including Kanimuthu Pappa (1972).
After Pandiyan, S. P. Muthuraman went on to direct 1 more film, including Thottil Kuzhandhai (1995).
Decade
#1→#2→#3→#4→#5→#6
→#8→#9→#10→#11
→#14→#15→#16
→#18→#19
→#21
→#23
→#35→#36
→#44
P
Petha Manam Pithu
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onYouTube
K
Kalangalil Aval Vasantham
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
O
Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
A
Alukoru Aasai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
B
Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onYouTube
Priya
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 7.8
→#7C
Chakkapodu Podu Raja
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
K
Katrinile Varum Geetham
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
S
Sakka Podu Podu Raja
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
V
Vattathukkul Chadhuram
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayYouTube
★ 8.3
→#12V
Vetrikku Oruvan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
★ 7.5
→#13K
Kadavul Amaitha Medai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
K
Kavarimaan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onYouTube
O
Oru Koyil Iru Dheebangal
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onYouTube
Murattu Kaalai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAhaPrime Video
★ 7.4
→#17R
Rishimoolam
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onWatchoYouTubeZEE5
R
Rusi Kanda Poonai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
K
Kazhugu
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
★ 7.5
→#20Netri Kann
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
Puthukavithai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayYouTube
★ 7.5
→#22Enkeyo Ketta Kural
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayPrime VideoYouTube
Sakalakala Vallavan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 6.5
→#24Paayum Puli
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onPlexPrime VideoYouTube
★ 6.5
→#25Thoongadhe Thambi Thoongadhe
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 6.6
→#26Adutha Varisu
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
★ 6.5
→#27Naan Mahaan Alla
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowGoogle Play Movies
★ 7.5
→#28Nallavanuku Nallavan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onPrime Video
★ 7.8
→#29E
Enakkul Oruvan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowPrime Video
★ 8.5
→#30Japanil Kalyanaraman
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onApple TV+Eros NowPrime VideoYouTube
★ 3.6
→#31Sri Raghavendra
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowPrime VideoYouTube
★ 3.8
→#32Uyarndha Ullam
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAhaPrime Video
★ 3.6
→#33Nalla Thambi
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayPrime VideoYouTube
★ 1.0
→#34A
Ammavum Neeye Appavum Neeye
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayYouTube
E
En Selvame
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Mr. Bharath
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onGoogle Play MoviesPrime VideoYouTube
★ 4.2
→#37Velaikaran
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowPrime VideoYouTube
★ 4.9
→#38Per Sollum Pillai
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowPrime VideoYouTube
★ 4.7
→#39Guru Sishyan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayApple TV+Eros NowPrime VideoYouTube
★ 5.2
→#40Dharmathin Thalaivan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayApple TV+Eros NowPlexPrime Video
★ 5.3
→#41Raja Chinna Roja
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onJioHotstarPrime Video
★ 5.1
→#42Athisaya Piravi
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 4.1
→#43Kaaval Geetham
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Pandiyan
Tamil
Ilayaraja · Music ComposerS. P. Muthuraman · Director
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayPrime VideoYouTube
★ 4.1
→Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & S. P. Muthuraman's professional partnership
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32
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 32 people again and again — a small repertory company. Rajinikanth appears alongside them in 20 films — practically a third lead.
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