Manivannan & Ilayaraja Movies Together — 42 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
About This Collaboration
Manivannan & Ilayaraja have worked together on 42 films in Indian cinema. Their collaboration began in 1980 and extends to 2022, representing 42 years of joint work. Working Manivannan as Director and Ilayaraja as Music Composer, their pairing brought together complementary creative strengths that carved out a distinctive niche despite uneven audience reception.
Among their most acclaimed works are "Nizhalgal", "Gopurangal Saivathillai", "Ilamai Kalangal" — with "Nizhalgal" earning a top rating of 8.5/10. Across all their joint films, they maintain an average audience rating of 4.1/10 — an average that reflects a challenging run — several films fell below audience expectations.
Their most productive period was the 1980s, when they delivered 21 films that shaped the era's cinema. The bulk of their work is in Tamil cinema. From "Nizhalgal" (1980) to "Jothi" (2022), their partnership has evolved through shifting industry landscapes while maintaining its artistic core.
This page brings together their complete joint filmography, a year-by-year timeline of the partnership, the extended network of directors, actors, and crew they shared across projects, and a curated list of similar creative pairings you may want to explore.
Career Context
Nizhalgal was Manivannan's directorial debut.
After Jothi, Manivannan went on to direct 1 more film, including Madha Gaja Raja (2025).
Before Nizhalgal, Ilayaraja had starred in 70 films, including Azhiyadha Kolangal (1979) and Padhinaru Vayadhiniley (1977).
After Jothi, Ilayaraja went on to appear in 5 more films, including Viduthalai (2023) and Music School (2023).
Collaboration DNA
Partnership Pattern
42 films across 42 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Creative Evolution
- Nizhalgal
- Gopurangal Saivathillai
- Amaidhi Padai
- Kadhal Kavithai
- Solla Marandha Kadhai
- Kasi
- Jothi
This duo's 42-film partnership spans 4 decades of Indian cinema, with their most productive period being the 1980s when they delivered 21 films that defined the era.
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manivannan & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
Shared Crew
People who worked on Manivannan & Ilayaraja's films together
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