Ilayaraja & Girish Karnad Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Girish Karnad appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1990 and 2008. Their highest-rated collaboration was Dhanam (2008 — 6.5/10). Films span Chaitanya (1990) through Dhanam (2008).
The Ilayaraja & Girish Karnad partnership
After 9 years apart, they came back together for Hey Ram (2000). They saved their best for last — Dhanam (6.5/10) came 18 years in. They didn't share a set between 1991 and 2000.
From Chaitanya (1990) to Dhanam (2008). It started with Chaitanya (1990).
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Guna; the 2000s to Dhanam. Never on the same side of the camera — Ilayaraja music composer, Girish Karnad actor, across all 4 films. Mostly Tamil, with 1 film in Telugu.
4 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 2 films, averaging 4.6/10.
The 2000s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.0/10.
- Guna
- Chaitanya
- Dhanam
- Hey Ram
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 18 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
Chaitanya was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Dhanam, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 13 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
Before Chaitanya, Girish Karnad had starred in 19 films, including Tarang (1984) and Apne Paraye (1980).
After Dhanam, Girish Karnad went on to appear in 12 more films, including 24 (2016) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Girish Karnad's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Kamal Haasan is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 4 films.
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