Ilayaraja & Rao Gopal Rao Movies Together List — 2 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Rao Gopal Rao appeared together in 2 Tamil films between 1981 and 1990. Their highest-rated collaboration was Sankarlal (1981 — 7.5/10). Films span Sankarlal (1981) through Kondaveeti Donga (1990).
The Ilayaraja & Rao Gopal Rao partnership
After 9 years apart, they came back together for Kondaveeti Donga (1990). They didn't share a set between 1981 and 1990. From Sankarlal (1981) to Kondaveeti Donga (1990).
Sankarlal is the one most viewers reach for. The ran closed with Kondaveeti Donga in 1990.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Sankarlal; the 1990s to Kondaveeti Donga. Ilayaraja scored every film; Rao Gopal Rao acted in all of them.
2 films across 2 decades
The 1980s brought 1 film together, anchored by Sankarlal (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.0/10.
- Sankarlal
- Kondaveeti Donga
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
2 films across 9 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
33% of Rao Gopal Rao's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Kondaveeti Donga, Ilayaraja kept going for 258 more films; Rao Gopal Rao stepped back.
Sankarlal was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Kondaveeti Donga, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 258 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Sankarlal was Rao Gopal Rao's acting debut.
After Kondaveeti Donga, Rao Gopal Rao went on to appear in 4 more films, including Gharana Mogudu (1992) and Nippu Ravva (1993).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Rao Gopal Rao's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Amrish Puri is the through-line — cast on 1 of their 2 films.
