Cheran & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Cheran and Ilayaraja appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 1998 and 2007. Their highest-rated collaboration was Solla Marandha Kadhai (2002 — 7.5/10). Films span Desiya Geetham (1998) through Maya Kannadi (2007).
The Cheran & Ilayaraja partnership
From Desiya Geetham (1998) to Maya Kannadi (2007). Solla Marandha Kadhai is the one most viewers reach for. It started with Desiya Geetham (1998).
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Desiya Geetham; the 2000s to Solla Marandha Kadhai. Never on the same side of the camera — Cheran director, Ilayaraja music composer, across all 3 films. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
3 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
The 2000s brought 2 films together, anchored by Solla Marandha Kadhai (7.5/10).
- Desiya Geetham0
- Solla Marandha Kadhai
- Maya Kannadi
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 9 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
When they first worked together, Cheran had 2 films behind them; Ilayaraja had 221.
Before Desiya Geetham, Cheran had directed 2 films, including Porkkaalam (1997) and Bharathi Kannamma (1997).
After Maya Kannadi, Cheran went on to direct 28 more films, including Vimanam (2023) and Yuddham Sei (2011).
Before Desiya Geetham, Ilayaraja had starred in 221 films, including Nadigan (1990) and Chinna Vathiyar (1995).
After Maya Kannadi, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 15 more films, including Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Cheran & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Manivannan is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 3 films.
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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