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Karthik Subbaraj collaborates with Ilaiyaraaja for 10th film
18 May 2026

Acclaimed director Karthik Subbaraj has announced his upcoming project, which will be his 10th directorial venture.

The film will feature music by legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja, marking the maestro's 1,540th film.

This collaboration is particularly special for Subbaraj, who took to social media to share an announcement video and congratulate Ilaiyaraaja on completing 50 years in the industry.

'From growing up with his music, to working with him'
Announcement details

In his post, Subbaraj wrote, "From growing up with his music, to working with him."

The video shared by him featured Ilaiyaraaja in a recording session, composing music and having animated discussions with Subbaraj. It also captured the excitement surrounding this collaboration.

A significant shift in creative partnership
Creative transition

This collaboration marks a significant shift in Subbaraj's long-standing creative partnership with composer Santhosh Narayanan.

Narayanan has composed music for nearly all of Subbaraj's feature films, including Jigarthanda, Mahaan, and Retro. The only exception was Anirudh Ravichander's score for Rajinikanth's Petta.

With Ilaiyaraaja now on board for his 10th film, this is only the second time Subbaraj has worked with a composer other than Narayanan.

Ilaiyaraaja's busy year and upcoming projects
Ongoing legacy

Despite being in the industry for over five decades, Ilaiyaraaja remains one of Indian cinema's busiest composers. In 2026 alone, he has worked on several Tamil projects and is now set to collaborate with a new generation of filmmakers through Subbaraj's upcoming film.

One of his much-awaited projects is the fantasy drama Pocket Novel, directed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja and starring Vijay Sethupathi, Raj B Shetty, Kishore, and Malavika Mohan.