Vadivelu & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 24 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-18 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vadivelu and Ilayaraja appeared together in 24 Tamil films between 1992 and 2009. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kakkai Siraginilae (2000 — 7.5/10). Films span Singaravelan (1992) through Jaganmohini (2009).
The Vadivelu & Ilayaraja partnership
1995 was their peak — 7 films in twelve months. For 17 years, a Vadivelu–Ilayaraja film arrived almost every year. The work is uneven: Kakkai Siraginilae (7.5) at one end, Muthu Kaalai (1.0) at the other.
From Singaravelan (1992) to Jaganmohini (2009). Kakkai Siraginilae is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1990s account for 79% of everything they made together. The 1990s belonged to Ellame En Rasathan; the 2000s to Kakkai Siraginilae. Vadivelu acted in every film; Ilayaraja scored all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
24 films across 2 decades
The 1990s brought 19 films together, anchored by Ellame En Rasathan (7.3/10).
The 2000s brought 5 films together, anchored by Kakkai Siraginilae (7.5/10).
- Ellame En Rasathan
- Thodarum
- Kakkai Siraginilae
- Azhagar Malai
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
24 films across 17 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
51% of Vadivelu's screen credits are with Ilayaraja. When they first worked together, Vadivelu had 1 films behind them; Ilayaraja had 74. After Jaganmohini, Vadivelu kept going for 22 more films; Ilayaraja stepped back.
Before Singaravelan, Vadivelu had starred in 1 film, including Aatha Un Koyilile (1991).
After Jaganmohini, Vadivelu went on to appear in 22 more films, including Sivalinga (2017) and Mersal (2017).
Before Singaravelan, Ilayaraja had starred in 74 films, including Nadigan (1990) and Sami Potta Mudichu (1991).
After Jaganmohini, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 6 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Shamitabh (2015).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vadivelu & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 16 people again and again — a small repertory company. Senthil appears alongside them in 7 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
