How many times have Ilayaraja and Rajavarman worked together?

4 films across 5 years (1988–1993).

What was the first Ilayaraja & Rajavarman film?

Their first film together was Enga Ooru Kavalkaran in 1988.

What is the best Ilayaraja & Rajavarman film?

Thanga Manasukkaran (1992) is their highest-rated film together at 7.5/10.

Who else worked on most Ilayaraja & Rajavarman films?

Murali — cast on 3 of their 4 films.

When did Ilayaraja and Rajavarman last work together?

Thanga Kili (1993) is their final film together.

When did the partnership peak?

Their peak came late — Thanga Manasukkaran (7.5/10) was released 4 years after their first film.

Is there a frequent third lead in their films?

Murali appears with them in 3 films.

Was there a dominant decade in Ilayaraja & Rajavarman's work?

The 1990s — 75% of their films together were released in that decade.

When did the Ilayaraja & Rajavarman partnership end?

Thanga Kili in 1993 was their last — 33 years ago.

Are Ilayaraja & Rajavarman's films streaming?

Available on Google Play Movies, YouTube, Watcho. Availability varies by region.

4 Films Together

Music Composer

Ilayaraja

Director

Rajavarman

4 films·1988–1993·Top co-star: Murali (3 films)

Ilayaraja & Rajavarman Movies Together List — 4 Films

Complete Movies List & Collaboration History

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB

Ilayaraja and Rajavarman appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1988 and 1993. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thanga Manasukkaran (1992 — 7.5/10). Films span Enga Ooru Kavalkaran (1988) through Thanga Kili (1993).

Films Together

7.0

Average Rating

1988 - 1993

Career Span

Tamil

Primary Language

Credibility

Career Phase

Active×Active

The Ilayaraja & Rajavarman partnership

Between 1988 and 1993, they barely worked apart — 4 films in 5 years. They saved their best for last — Thanga Manasukkaran (7.5/10) came 4 years in. From Enga Ooru Kavalkaran (1988) to Thanga Kili (1993).

The unfolded closed with Thanga Kili in 1993. Thanga Manasukkaran is the one most viewers reach for.

The shape of the work

The 1990s account for 75% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Enga Ooru Kavalkaran; the 1990s to Thanga Manasukkaran. Never on the same side of the camera — Ilayaraja music composer, Rajavarman director, across all 4 films. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.

4 films across 2 decades

The 1980s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.5/10.

The 1990s brought 3 films together, anchored by Thanga Manasukkaran (7.5/10).

1980s

Films1

Avg Rating6.5/10

Notable:

Enga Ooru Kavalkaran(6.5)

Era:

Ilayaraja: ActiveRajavarman: Active

1990s

Films3

Avg Rating7.5/10

Notable:

Thanga Manasukkaran(7.5)
Manikkuyil0

Era:

Ilayaraja: ActiveRajavarman: Active

The partnership in numbers

Partnership Pattern

Duration1988–1993

Span5 years

Avg Interval~2 years

4 films across 5 years represents consistent collaboration.

Language Distribution

Tamil

4 films (100%)

Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.

Where each was in their career

After Thanga Kili, Ilayaraja kept going for 143 more films; Rajavarman stepped back.

Ilayaraja

Enga Ooru Kavalkaran was Ilayaraja's acting debut.

After Thanga Kili, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 143 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).

Rajavarman

Enga Ooru Kavalkaran was Rajavarman's directorial debut.

Decade

Enga Ooru Kavalkaran

1988Tamil

Ilayaraja · Music ComposerRajavarman · Story

Streaming onGoogle Play MoviesYouTube

Ilayaraja · Music ComposerRajavarman · Director

Ilayaraja · Music ComposerRajavarman · Director

→#4

Thanga Kili

1993Tamil

Ilayaraja · Music ComposerRajavarman · Director

Streaming onWatchoYouTube

→

Collaboration Journey

A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Rajavarman's professional partnership

1988

★6.5

Enga Ooru Kavalkaran

Tamil

Ilayaraja: Music ComposerRajavarman: Story

Streaming onGoogle Play MoviesYouTube

1992

★7.5

Thanga Manasukkaran

Tamil

Ilayaraja: Music ComposerRajavarman: Director

1993

Manikkuyil

Tamil

Ilayaraja: Music ComposerRajavarman: Director

1993

Thanga Kili

Tamil

Ilayaraja: Music ComposerRajavarman: Director

Streaming onWatchoYouTube

Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films

Murali is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 4 films. Murali appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.

MuraliCast

M. N. NambiarCast

BabluCast

Bayilvan RanganathanCast

G. RajendranCinematography

Meenakshi ArtsProduction

Sangili MuruganWriting

Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos

Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings

Ilayaraja

Rajavarman

Ilayaraja & Rajavarman Movies Together List — 4 Films

The Ilayaraja & Rajavarman partnership

The shape of the work

4 films across 2 decades

The partnership in numbers

Partnership Pattern

Language Distribution

Where each was in their career

Collaboration Journey

Enga Ooru Kavalkaran

Thanga Manasukkaran

Manikkuyil

Thanga Kili

Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films

Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos

Frequently asked questions