Ilayaraja & Nalinikanth Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Nalinikanth appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 1983 and 1998. Their highest-rated collaboration was Mundhanai Mudichu (1983 — 8.4/10). Films span Mundhanai Mudichu (1983) through Desiya Geetham (1998).
The Ilayaraja & Nalinikanth partnership
After 12 years apart, they came back together for Desiya Geetham (1998). They didn't share a set between 1986 and 1998. One film towers over the rest: Mundhanai Mudichu at 8.4/10.
From Mundhanai Mudichu (1983) to Desiya Geetham (1998). Mundhanai Mudichu is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Mundhanai Mudichu; the 1990s to Desiya Geetham. Ilayaraja scored every film; Nalinikanth acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
3 films across 2 decades
The 1980s brought 2 films together, anchored by Mundhanai Mudichu (8.4/10).
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
- Mundhanai Mudichu
- Amman Kovil Kizhakale
- Desiya Geetham0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 15 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Desiya Geetham, Ilayaraja kept going for 66 more films; Nalinikanth stepped back.
Mundhanai Mudichu was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Desiya Geetham, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 66 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Mundhanai Mudichu was Nalinikanth's acting debut.
After Desiya Geetham, Nalinikanth went on to appear in 1 more film, including Yaamirukka Bayamey (2014).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Nalinikanth's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Ilayaraja & Nalinikanth's films together
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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