Ilayaraja & Janagaraj Movies Together List — 60 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Janagaraj appeared together in 60 Tamil films between 1979 and 1998. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nizhalgal (1980 — 8.5/10). Films span Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979) through Kumbakonam Gopalu (1998).
The Ilayaraja & Janagaraj partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1985 was their peak — 8 films in twelve months. For 19 years, a Ilayaraja–Janagaraj film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Nizhalgal (8.5) at one end, Marudhani (1.0) at the other. From Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979) to Kumbakonam Gopalu (1998).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Puthiya Vaarpugal; the 1990s to Nadodi Thendral. Ilayaraja scored every film; Janagaraj acted in all of them.
60 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 1 film together, anchored by Puthiya Vaarpugal (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 34 films together, anchored by Nizhalgal (8.5/10).
The 1990s brought 25 films together, anchored by Nadodi Thendral (7.5/10).
- Puthiya Vaarpugal
- Nizhalgal
- Mann Vasanai
- Nadodi Thendral
- Vetri Padigal
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
60 films across 19 years represents focused partnership.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
48% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Janagaraj. After Kumbakonam Gopalu, Ilayaraja kept going for 66 more films; Janagaraj stepped back.
Puthiya Vaarpugal was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Kumbakonam Gopalu, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 66 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Puthiya Vaarpugal was Janagaraj's acting debut.
After Kumbakonam Gopalu, Janagaraj went on to appear in 12 more films, including Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001) and Mudhal Kanave (2007).








































Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Janagaraj's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 59 people again and again — a small repertory company. Nassar appears alongside them in 12 films — practically a third lead.
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