Tamil film composer Deva, fondly hailed by fans as the “Gaana Hero” and “Thenisai Thendral”, has passed away. With music for more than 450 films, he remained one of the most prolific names in the industry.
Born on November 20, 1950, as Devanesan Chokkalingam, Deva’s native place was a small village called Mangadu in Arcot district, though he grew up in Chennai. From an early age, he developed a strong interest in music and became closely familiar with gaana songs heard in areas such as Kasimedu and Ayanavaram.
He began his career working with theatre music composers Kamesh and Rajamani, learning instruments quickly by seizing every opportunity. In 1973, he teamed up with Chandrabose to form a music troupe called “Boses Deva”, and the duo got a film opportunity in 1977 with Madhura Geetham. Later, Deva moved away from the partnership and worked as a floor assistant at Doordarshan, while also training in piano under Thanraj Master and harmonium under J.P. Krishna Master.
During the 1980s, he released several devotional music albums, but a film breakthrough proved difficult—around 13 projects he was signed for reportedly stalled despite publicity. His first on-screen film as a composer was Maattukkaara Mannaaru (1986), while Manasukketha Maharasa (1989) established him further. The turning point came with Vaigasi Porandhaachu (1990), which earned wide appreciation and also brought him the Tamil Nadu government’s award for best music director that year.
Deva went on to score for leading stars and landed major milestones with K. Balachander’s banner through Annamalai, where the “Super Star” title and theme music gained a new presentation. He later added another landmark with Rajinikanth’s blockbuster Baashha (1995). The title “Thenisai Thendral” was bestowed on him by veteran composer M.S. Viswanathan, and Deva carved a distinct identity by consistently weaving gaana into mainstream Tamil film music.
