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7 Films Together
7 films·1988–2001·Top co-star: Charlie (3 films)

Vijay & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 7 Films

Complete Movies List & Collaboration History

Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB

Vijay and Ilayaraja appeared together in 7 Tamil films between 1988 and 2001. Their highest-rated collaboration was Friends (2001 — 6.4/10). Films span Idhu Engal Needhi (1988) through Friends (2001).

7
Films Together
5.8
Average Rating
1988 - 2001
Career Span
Tamil
Primary Language
Credibility
Career Phase
Active×Active

The Vijay & Ilayaraja partnership

They saved their best for last — Friends (6.4/10) came 13 years in. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. From Idhu Engal Needhi (1988) to Friends (2001).

The played out closed with Friends in 2001. It started with Idhu Engal Needhi (1988).

The shape of the work

The 1980s belonged to Idhu Engal Needhi; the 2000s to Friends. Vijay acted in every film; Ilayaraja scored all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.

7 films across 3 decades

The 1980s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.5/10.

The 1990s accounted for 4 films, averaging 5.9/10.

The 2000s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.1/10.

1980s
Films1
Avg Rating4.5/10
Notable:
  • Idhu Engal Needhi(4.5)
Era:
Vijay: ActiveIlayaraja: Active
1990s
Films4
Avg Rating5.9/10
Notable:
  • Kadhalukku Mariyadhai(6.3)
  • Innisai Mazhai(5.8)
Era:
Vijay: ActiveIlayaraja: Active
2000s
Films2
Avg Rating6.1/10
Notable:
  • Friends(6.4)
  • Kannukkul Nilavu(5.8)
Era:
Vijay: ActiveIlayaraja: Active

The partnership in numbers

Partnership Pattern

Duration19882001
Span13 years
Avg Interval~2 years

7 films across 13 years represents consistent collaboration.

Language Distribution

Tamil
7 films (100%)

Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.

Where each was in their career

Vijay

Before Idhu Engal Needhi, Vijay had starred in 1 film, including Vetri (1984).

After Friends, Vijay went on to appear in 43 more films, including Kaththi (2014) and Mersal (2017).

Ilayaraja

Idhu Engal Needhi was Ilayaraja's acting debut.

After Friends, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 38 more films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).

Frequently asked questions