Ilayaraja & Chithra Movies Together List — 7 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Chithra appeared together in 7 Tamil films between 1978 and 1995. Their highest-rated collaboration was Aval Appadithan (1978 — 8.1/10). Films span Aval Appadithan (1978) through Periya Kudumbam (1995).
The Ilayaraja & Chithra partnership
1989 was their peak — 3 films in twelve months. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. From Aval Appadithan (1978) to Periya Kudumbam (1995).
The work is uneven: Aval Appadithan (8.1) at one end, Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil (1.0) at the other. Raja Paarvai (1981, 7.6/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 71% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Aval Appadithan; the 1990s to Periya Kudumbam. Ilayaraja scored every film; Chithra acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
7 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 1 film together, anchored by Aval Appadithan (8.1/10).
The 1980s brought 5 films together, anchored by Ninaivu Chinnam (8.0/10).
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
- Aval Appadithan
- Ninaivu Chinnam
- Raja Paarvai
- Periya Kudumbam0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
7 films across 17 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
78% of Chithra's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Periya Kudumbam, Ilayaraja kept going for 95 more films; Chithra stepped back.
Aval Appadithan was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Periya Kudumbam, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 95 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Aval Appadithan was Chithra's acting debut.
After Periya Kudumbam, Chithra went on to appear in 2 more films, including Kabadi Kabadi (2001) and Gopala Gopala (1996).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Chithra's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Goundamani appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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