Arjun & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 8 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Arjun and Ilayaraja appeared together in 8 Tamil films between 1988 and 2016. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thuruva Natchathiram (1993 — 6.5/10). Films span Dhayam Onnu (1988) through Oru Melliya Kodu (2016).
The Arjun & Ilayaraja partnership
After 19 years apart, they came back together for Oru Melliya Kodu (2016). They didn't share a set between 1997 and 2016. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema.
From Dhayam Onnu (1988) to Oru Melliya Kodu (2016). It started with Dhayam Onnu (1988).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Dhayam Onnu; the 2010s to Oru Melliya Kodu. Arjun acted in every film; Ilayaraja scored all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
8 films across 3 decades
The 1980s accounted for 3 films.
The 1990s accounted for 4 films, averaging 5.3/10.
The 2010s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.8/10.
- Dhayam Onnu0
- Annanukku Jey0
- Thuruva Natchathiram
- Sadhu
- Oru Melliya Kodu
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
8 films across 28 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
89% of Ilayaraja's screen credits are with Arjun.
Before Dhayam Onnu, Arjun had starred in 12 films, including Engal Kural (1985) and Swati (1986).
After Oru Melliya Kodu, Arjun went on to appear in 8 more films, including Irumbu Thirai (2018) and Nibunan (2017).
Dhayam Onnu was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
After Oru Melliya Kodu, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 1 more film, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Arjun & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Seetha is the through-line — cast on 4 of their 8 films. Seetha appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
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