Veteran Music Composer Deva Passes Away at 75

Chennai: Veteran Tamil music composer and singer Deva, affectionately known as “Thenisai Thendral,” died in Chennai on Saturday, October 17, at the age of 75.

Reports said he was taken to a private hospital in Kodambakkam at around 8.30 am. DT Next said he died of a heart attack, while other outlets said the cause was still awaited.

Born Devanesan Chokkalingam on November 20, 1950, Deva was one of the most prominent composers in Tamil cinema, particularly during the 1990s. He made his debut as a composer in 1986 with “Maattukara Mannaru,” though early success was slow. His breakthrough came with Rajinikanth’s “Annamalai,” after which he became a regular composer for stars including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Prabhudeva and Suriya. In 1996 alone, he scored 36 films.

Known for catchy melodies, folk-inspired tunes and for bringing gaana music into mainstream cinema, Deva worked on more than 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam over a career spanning four decades. His Malayalam credits included “The Prince” and “Phantom,” and his Telugu hits included “Ee Manase Se Se,” “Yemaindi O Ee Vella” and “Nayudori Pilla.” His nickname translates to “breeze of sweet music.”

His death sent shockwaves through the film industry, with members of the fraternity expressing grief.