The renowned Indian composer Deva, who collaborated for many years with cinema icon Rajinikanth, passed away from health complications at the age of 75. According to Indian media reports, he had no pulse upon arrival at the hospital, and resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
Deva was born on November 20, 1950. This late composer primarily worked in Tamil cinema, creating music for over 400 films. He also composed music for films in Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.
He was known for bringing the 'Gaana' genre into mainstream cinema. His songs and film soundtracks featuring Rajinikanth, such as those from 'Annamalai,' 'Arunachalam,' and 'Baasha,' achieved immense popularity.
His signature theme music used during the credits to accompany Rajinikanth's appearance became a symbolic element of the actor's cinematic identity and was constantly used in his film introductions.
Rajinikanth visited the veteran composer's residence on Saturday to pay his last respects.
Born in Mylapore, Chennai, he gained widespread recognition for popularizing 'Gaana' music in Tamil cinema. He scored over 400 movies in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema. Meanwhile, numerous tributes poured in from politicians, celebrities, and fans across social media.
Actor Kamal Haasan, who also worked closely with the late composer, wrote: 'The news of my dear brother Deva's death is shocking. He was a bright soul, full of enthusiasm and zeal, with a penchant for lighthearted humor and genuine laughter. Memories of the joyful times we shared while working on films like 'Avvai Shanmugam,' 'Pammal K. Sambandam,' and 'Panchatantiram' flooded me. My heartfelt tribute to him. My deepest condolences and words of comfort to his family.'
In memory of the veteran composer, the President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin expressed his condolences on X. Stalin wrote: 'I was deeply shocked by the news of the demise of Deva, the 'Shadow of Tendral.' Deva possessed a pure, innocent heart, completely free from envy, deceit, or cunning. He played a crucial role in introducing the 'Gaana' genre into mainstream film music—so much so that the term 'Gaana' became synonymous with Deva himself. Having risen from humble rural beginnings in Chennai, he ascended to become one of the leading music directors in the South Indian film industry, becoming a source of inspiration for many. He composed music for films starring all the major superstars, playing a key role in their success.'