42 Films Together
42 films·1980–2022·Top Music Composer: Harshavardhan Rameshwar (1 films)·Top co-star: Sathyaraj (13 films)
Manivannan & Ilayaraja Movies Together List — 42 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manivannan and Ilayaraja appeared together in 42 Tamil films between 1980 and 2022. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nizhalgal (1980 — 8.5/10). Films span Nizhalgal (1980) through Jothi (2022).
42
Films Together
6.1
Average Rating
1980 - 2022
Career Span
Tamil
Primary Language
Credibility
Career Phase
Active×Active
Long-Term Partnership
The Manivannan & Ilayaraja partnership
After 18 years apart, they came back together for Jothi (2022). They didn't share a set between 2004 and 2022. 1984 was their peak — 6 films in twelve months.
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. For 42 years, a Manivannan–Ilayaraja film arrived almost every year.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Nizhalgal; the 2020s to Jothi. Manivannan actor in some, director in others. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
42 films across 4 decades
The 1980s brought 21 films together, anchored by Nizhalgal (8.5/10).
The 1990s brought 15 films together, anchored by Mugam (7.5/10).
The 2000s brought 5 films together, anchored by Solla Marandha Kadhai (7.5/10).
The 2020s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.9/10.
1980s
Films21
Avg Rating6.5/10
Notable:
- Nizhalgal
- Gopurangal Saivathillai
Era:
Manivannan: ActiveIlayaraja: Active
1990s
Films15
Avg Rating5.8/10
Notable:
- Mugam
- Poomani
Era:
Manivannan: ActiveIlayaraja: Active
2000s
Films5
Avg Rating6.0/10
Notable:
- Solla Marandha Kadhai
- Vishwa Thulasi
Era:
Manivannan: ActiveIlayaraja: Active
2020s
Films1
Avg Rating5.9/10
Notable:
- Jothi
Era:
Manivannan: ActiveIlayaraja: Active
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
Duration1980–2022
Span42 years
Avg Interval~1 years
42 films across 42 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Tamil42 films (100%)
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
98% of Manivannan's screen credits are with Ilayaraja.
Manivannan
Nizhalgal was Manivannan's directorial debut.
After Jothi, Manivannan went on to direct 1 more film, including Madha Gaja Raja (2025).
Ilayaraja
Nizhalgal was Ilayaraja's acting debut.
Decade
#1→#5
→#9→#10→#11→#14→#15
→#17→#19→#22
→#24
→#32
→#34
→#38
→#40
N
Nizhalgal
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onPrime VideoSun NXTYouTube
★ 8.5
→#2G
Gopurangal Saivathillai
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 7.5
→#3I
Ilamai Kalangal
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 7.5
→#4V
Veetiley Raman Veliyeley Krishnan
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
I
Ingeyum Oru Gangai
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onWatchoYouTube
★ 6.5
→#6Nooravathu Naal
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 7.5
→#724 Mani Neram
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 6.5
→#8A
Ambigai Neril Vanthaal
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
J
January Onnu
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
K
Kuva Kuva Vaathugal
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
A
Anbin Mugavari
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 7.3
→#12M
Muthal Vasantham
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onYouTube
★ 7.5
→#13P
Palaivana Rojakkal
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
V
Vidincha Kalyanam
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Jallikattu
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onPrime VideoYouTube
★ 4.0
→#16T
Teertha Karainelay
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
I
Ini Oru Sudanthiram
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayYouTube
★ 3.6
→#18P
Puyalpadum Pattu
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
U
Ullathil Nalla Ullam
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowYouTube
★ 4.7
→#20C
Chinnappadass
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayPrime VideoYouTube
★ 6.5
→#21K
Kathal Oivadilai
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Amaidhi Padai
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayApple TV+Prime Video
★ 5.1
→#23Rasa Magan
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Veera
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowPrime Video
★ 6.5
→#25Thozhar Pandian
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onYouTube
★ 5.2
→#26Aanazhagan
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 4.3
→#27P
Poomani
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 7.3
→#28Kadavul
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 6.6
→#29K
Kizhakkum Merkkum
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 3.4
→#30Veera Thalattu
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayMX PlayerSun NXTYouTube
★ 5.5
→#31K
Kavalai Padathe Sagodhara
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
P
Poonthottam
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 6.5
→#33Desiya Geetham
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlayEros NowYouTube
Kadhal Kavithai
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 4.4
→#35T
Thodarum
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 6.8
→#36M
Mugam
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 7.5
→#37Aandan Adimai
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAirtel Xstream Play
Kasi
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 4.9
→#39En Mana Vaanil
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAirtel Xstream PlaySun NXTYouTube
Solla Marandha Kadhai
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 7.5
→#41V
Vishwa Thulasi
Tamil
Manivannan · ActorIlayaraja · Music Composer
★ 5.5
→#42Jothi
Tamil
Manivannan · DirectorIlayaraja · Music Composer
Streaming onAhaAirtel Xstream Play
★ 5.9
→Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manivannan & Ilayaraja's professional partnership
1
5
6
15
37
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Sathyaraj appears alongside them in 13 films — practically a third lead. They worked with the same 30 people again and again — a small repertory company.
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