Deva, a celebrated figure in Tamil cinema, has passed away in Chennai after experiencing chest pain
He was 75.
CHENNAI: Deva, the music director whose “Superstar” title-card music has announced every Rajinikanth film since 1992, including the latest, Jailer 2, died in Chennai on Saturday. He died despite efforts to resuscitate him, doctors said. He complained of chest pain on Saturday morning and was taken to Surya Hospital.
Born Devanesan Chokkalingam on Nov 20, 1950, in Mylapore, he came to film music after working in television and stage shows. Deva made his debut in 1989 with Manasukketha Maharaasaa. Prashanth’s Vaikasi Porandhaachu in 1990 gave him his big break.
The godfather of Gaana, Deva was a music director, lyricist and singer who took the street music of Chennai into mainstream cinema. He wrote and sang many of his own gaana numbers and was a rage through the 1990s. The songs he made popular are now sung even at international film events. For Rajinikanth, he created the vibe for the star’s introductory songs, including those in Annamalai and Bashaa. Naan Autokaaran became an anthem for autorickshaw drivers in this part of the country. He worked at Doordarshan’s Podhigai channel and composed songs for the farming programme Vayalum Vaazhvum. Sabesh and Murali, were also in the music business, his son, Srikanth Deva, is a composer too While his brothers.