Ilayaraja & Rajasekhar Movies Together List — 14 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Rajasekhar appeared together in 14 Tamil films between 1980 and 1991. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nizhalgal (1980 — 8.5/10). Films span Nizhalgal (1980) through Dharma Dorai (1991).
The Ilayaraja & Rajasekhar partnership
1985 was their peak — 3 films in twelve months. For 11 years, a Ilayaraja–Rajasekhar film arrived almost every year. The work is uneven: Nizhalgal (8.5) at one end, Eetti (1.0) at the other.
From Nizhalgal (1980) to Dharma Dorai (1991). The spanned closed with Dharma Dorai in 1991.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 86% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Nizhalgal; the 1990s to Dharma Dorai. Rajasekhar actor in some, director in others.
14 films across 2 decades
The 1980s brought 12 films together, anchored by Nizhalgal (8.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 2 films, averaging 4.1/10.
- Nizhalgal
- Koolikaran
- Dharma Dorai
- Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
14 films across 11 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
50% of Rajasekhar's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Dharma Dorai, Ilayaraja kept going for 226 more films; Rajasekhar stepped back.
Nizhalgal was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Dharma Dorai, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 226 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Nizhalgal was Rajasekhar's directorial debut.
After Dharma Dorai, Rajasekhar went on to direct 14 more films, including Mahankali (2013) and Simha Raasi (2001).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Rajasekhar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 8 people again and again — a small repertory company. Rajinikanth appears alongside them in 5 films — practically a third lead.
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