Brief
Tamil composer Deva dies at 75 after chest pain in Chennai
Deva, famed for popularising gaana music and scoring Rajinikanth blockbusters, died aged 75 in Chennai on Saturday.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Veteran Tamil music composer and singer Deva died in Chennai on Saturday, October 17, aged 75, after complaining of chest pain, Gulf News reported.
Deva was rushed to Surya Hospital on Saturday morning, but doctors could not revive him despite resuscitation attempts. He was born Devanesan Chokkalingam on November 20, 1950, and rose to prominence in the 1990s, composing for hundreds of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films.
He is best remembered for hit soundtracks for Rajinikanth’s films such as Annamalai, Baashha and Arunachalam. The Baashha theme became synonymous with the actor, and the song “Naan Autokaaran” from the same film turned into an anthem for autorickshaw drivers in Tamil Nadu. Deva also worked on films starring Kamal Haasan, including Avvai Shanmugi and Panchathanthiram, and composed for Malayalam movies like The Prince and Phantom.
Deva was credited with bringing Chennai’s gaana music into mainstream cinema. At a recent success meet for the Tamil film Meesaya Murukku 2, he explained that he introduced gaana songs to create a distinctive musical identity when the industry was dominated by Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman. He said, “Any song I composed would either sound like a song composed by Raaja or, if I scored a western number, it would sound like Rahman. It was under these circumstances that I wanted an identity for myself and therefore brought the gaana songs.”
Deva’s career also included popular soundtracks such as Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Nerrukku Ner, Ninaithen Vandhai, Priyamudan, Vaalee and Kushi. He was affectionately known as ‘Thenisai Thendral’ (the breeze of sweet music) and left a lasting legacy in South Indian cinema.
Key facts
- Deva died on October 17, 2026 in Chennai after chest pain (gulfnews.com)
- He was 75 years old at the time of death (gulfnews.com)
- Deva was known for popularising gaana music in Tamil cinema (gulfnews.com)
- He composed iconic scores for Rajinikanth films Annamalai, Baashha and Arunachalam (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Legendary Tamil Composer Deva, Known for Gaana Music and Rajinikanth Hits, Dies at 75”
