Ilayaraja & Sumalatha Movies Together List — 8 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ilayaraja and Sumalatha appeared together in 8 Tamil films between 1980 and 1990. Their highest-rated collaboration was Garjanai (1981 — 7.5/10). Films span Murattu Kaalai (1980) through Guru Shishyulu (1990).
The Ilayaraja & Sumalatha partnership
1981 was their peak — 4 films in twelve months. For 10 years, a Ilayaraja–Sumalatha film arrived almost every year. From Murattu Kaalai (1980) to Guru Shishyulu (1990).
Garjanai is the one most viewers reach for. The unfolded closed with Guru Shishyulu in 1990.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 88% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Garjanai; the 1990s to Guru Shishyulu. Ilayaraja scored every film; Sumalatha acted in all of them.
8 films across 2 decades
The 1980s brought 7 films together, anchored by Garjanai (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
- Garjanai
- Murattu Kaalai
- Guru Shishyulu0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
8 films across 10 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
50% of Sumalatha's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. After Guru Shishyulu, Ilayaraja kept going for 258 more films; Sumalatha stepped back.
Murattu Kaalai was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Guru Shishyulu, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 258 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Before Murattu Kaalai, Sumalatha had starred in 1 film, including Thisai Mariya Paravaigal (1979).
After Guru Shishyulu, Sumalatha went on to appear in 7 more films, including Srirastu Subhamastu (2016) and Anandamanandamaye (2004).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ilayaraja & Sumalatha's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Thengai Srinivasan appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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