Veteran music composer and singer Deva, the man who brought gaana music into mainstream Tamil cinema and created the famous title-card music that announces Rajinikanth on screen, died in Chennai on Saturday, October 17. He was 75. His son, composer Srikanth Deva, said he died of a cardiac arrest.
Known to fans as "Thenisai Thendral", or the breeze of sweet music, Deva composed for more than 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cinema over a career of more than three decades. The Tamil Nadu government has announced that his final journey will be accorded state honours.
Who was Deva
Born Devanesan Chokkalingam on November 20, 1950, Deva rose to become one of the busiest composers in Tamil cinema in the 1990s. His music was rooted in folk sounds and the street songs of Chennai, and he made gaana, once seen as a working-class local form, a fixture of big-screen soundtracks.
He was equally at home with romantic melodies and high-energy numbers, and was known in the industry for working within the budgets of small producers without compromising on tunes.
The Rajinikanth connection
Deva's name is tied forever to Rajinikanth's stardom. He scored the music for Annamalai (1992), Baashha (1995) and Arunachalam (1997), and the signature title-card music he created to introduce Rajinikanth's name on screen became one of the most recognisable sounds in Indian cinema. Generations of fans still cheer the moment it plays in theatres.
Key facts about Deva's life and career
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Devanesan Chokkalingam |
| Popular title | Thenisai Thendral |
| Born | November 20, 1950 |
| Died | October 17, 2026, Chennai (aged 75) |
| Films | More than 400, in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam |
| Known for | Bringing gaana into mainstream cinema; Rajinikanth's title-card music |
| Notable films | Annamalai, Baashha, Arunachalam, Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Vaalee, Kushi, Avvai Shanmugi |
| Honours | Kalaimamani, among others |
| Family | Son Srikanth Deva, also a composer |
Hits that defined an era
Beyond the Rajinikanth films, Deva's soundtracks powered some of the biggest Tamil hits of the 1990s and early 2000s. Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Nerrukku Ner, Ninaithen Vandhai, Priyamudan, Vaalee and Kushi carried songs that are still staples at weddings, college festivals and on music apps. With Kamal Haasan, he worked on Avvai Shanmugi, Pammal K. Sambandam and Panchatanthiram. He also composed for Malayalam films such as The Prince and Phantom.
Tributes pour in
Rajinikanth visited Deva's residence in T. Nagar, Chennai, to pay his last respects. Kamal Haasan wrote that "the news of my dear brother Deva's passing is shocking", recalling their films together.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay said he was filled with "profound shock and deep sorrow" and called Deva's death "an irreplaceable loss to Tamil cinema". DMK president M. K. Stalin, who also visited the residence, said he was deeply shocked and credited Deva with taking gaana into the mainstream. Lok Bhavan, Tamil Nadu, described the composer's death as "an irreparable loss to the world of music and Tamil cinema".
Actor Vijay Sethupathi wrote that "his music and songs will forever live in our memories", while actors Karthi and Khushbu Sundar, composer Sam C. S. and producers Chitra Lakshmanan and T. Siva were among others who paid tribute. T. Siva said Deva worked selflessly for producers and that his death had come as a huge shock to the industry.
Funeral details
According to his brother Sampath, the public can pay homage in Chennai on Sunday morning between 10 am and 11 am. The body will then be taken to Chakkaramallur, a village in Arcot taluk of Ranipet district, where the last rites will be performed with state honours.
Why his music still matters
For many listeners in Tamil Nadu and beyond, Deva's songs are part of growing up: played on cassette players, at temple festivals and on FM radio. He showed that the music of ordinary streets could sit comfortably alongside grand film scores, and in doing so, opened doors for a generation of composers and singers who drew on folk and gaana traditions. His title-card music will keep playing every time a Rajinikanth film begins, a small but lasting reminder of the composer behind it.
Comments (0)