Ilayaraja & Manorama Movies Together List — 61 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Manorama appeared together in 61 Tamil films between 1977 and 2000. Their highest-rated collaboration was Enakkul Oruvan (1984 — 8.5/10). Films span Dheepam (1977) through Thirunelveli (2000).
The Ilayaraja & Manorama partnership
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. 1992 was their peak — 7 films in twelve months. For 23 years, a Ilayaraja–Manorama film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Enakkul Oruvan (8.5) at one end, Muthu Kaalai (1.0) at the other. From Dheepam (1977) to Thirunelveli (2000).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala; the 2000s to Thirunelveli. Ilayaraja scored every film; Manorama acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
61 films across 4 decades
The 1970s brought 8 films together, anchored by Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala (7.8/10).
The 1980s brought 25 films together, anchored by Enakkul Oruvan (8.5/10).
The 1990s brought 27 films together, anchored by Nadigan (7.7/10).
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.8/10.
- Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala
- Kalyanaraman
- Enakkul Oruvan
- Antha Sila Naatkal
- Nadigan
- En Kitta Mothathey
- Thirunelveli
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
61 films across 23 years represents focused partnership.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
58% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Manorama. When they first worked together, Ilayaraja had 0 films behind them; Manorama had 82. After Thirunelveli, Ilayaraja kept going for 44 more films; Manorama stepped back.
Dheepam was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Thirunelveli, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 44 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Dheepam, Manorama had starred in 82 films, including Server Sundaram (1964) and Muhammad bin Tughluq (1971).
After Thirunelveli, Manorama went on to appear in 28 more films, including Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001) and Periyar (2007).




































Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Manorama's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 47 people again and again — a small repertory company. Goundamani appears alongside them in 18 films — practically a third lead.
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