Ilayaraja & Sujatha Movies Together List — 21 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Sujatha appeared together in 21 Tamil films between 1976 and 1996. Their highest-rated collaboration was Dheepam (1977 — 7.5/10). Films span Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu (1976) through Poovarasan (1996).
The Ilayaraja & Sujatha partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1986 was their peak — 4 films in twelve months. For 20 years, a Ilayaraja–Sujatha film arrived almost every year.
From Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu (1976) to Poovarasan (1996). Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu (1986, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Dheepam; the 1990s to Poovarasan. Ilayaraja scored every film; Sujatha acted in all of them.
21 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 3 films together, anchored by Dheepam (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 11 films together, anchored by Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 7 films, averaging 5.4/10.
- Dheepam
- Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu0
- Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu
- Anbukku Naan Adimai
- Poovarasan
- Chanti
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
21 films across 20 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
49% of Sujatha's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Poovarasan, Ilayaraja kept going for 88 more films; Sujatha stepped back.
Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Poovarasan, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 88 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu, Sujatha had starred in 7 films, including Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974) and Aanpillai Singam (1975).
After Poovarasan, Sujatha went on to appear in 15 more films, including Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu (2003) and Vathiyar (2006).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Sujatha's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 11 people again and again — a small repertory company. Vijayakumar appears alongside them in 7 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
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A. R. RahmanM. S. Viswanathan
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K. BalachanderRajinikanthM. S. Viswanathan
SanthanamManobala