Born Devanesan Chokkalingam on November 20, 1950, Deva composed music for more than 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cinema. His best-known soundtracks include Annamalai, Baashha, Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Nerrukku Ner, Ninaithen Vandhai, Priyamudan, Vaalee and Kushi. His Malayalam film credits include The Prince and Phantom.
Rest in peace Deva Sir… Your music will echo through generations. https://t.co/jDJDaPqVwF
— Nivin Pauly (@NivinOfficial) October 17, 2026
Rajinikanth recalls Deva’s response to Padayappa decision
Rajinikanth visited Deva’s residence to pay his final respects and subsequently shared a video message remembering the composer. The Superstar recalled their collaborations on Annaamalai, Baashha and Arunachalam, and spoke about the difficult conversation he had with Deva when he decided to work with AR Rahman for Padayappa.
Recalling how the composer responded to the news, Rajinikanth said, “He had composed music for three of my films—Annaamalai, Baashha, and Arunachalam—and all of these were major successes. After that, during the making of Padayappa, I wanted to tell him that we wanted AR Rahman for the film. ‘Please don’t feel wrong about it,’ I told him. And he stood up, shook my hand, and told me with much delight, ‘He (Rahman) is a new and talented composer. Of course, you should do it with him.’ He also said, ‘I find it grateful to even do three films for you.'”
Rajinikanth described Deva as a man without malice, adding, “He is such a man with no hidden malice and with a heart of gold.”
Rajinikanth further remembered a conversation following one of Deva’s recent concert tours. The composer had expressed happiness at seeing younger audiences enjoy his music and hoped to continue experiencing that joy for another 10 to 15 years.
“After a recent concert tour, he came to see me and told me about his surprise and delight at seeing how his music made youngsters happy and expressed his desire to live with that happiness for another 10-15 years. It seems like God took him away when he was happy, saying, ‘You are such a good person.'”
Kamal Haasan remembers working with Deva
Haasan wrote, “The news of my dear brother Deva’s passing is shocking. He was a vibrant soul, full of enthusiasm and zeal, with a penchant for light-hearted humor and hearty laughter. Memories of the joyful times we shared working together on films like Avvai Shanmugi, Pammal K. Sambandam, and Panchathanthiram come flooding back. My heartfelt tribute to him. My deepest condolences and words of comfort to his family (sic).”
அன்புச் சகோதரர் தேவா மறைந்துவிட்டார் என்கிற செய்தி அதிர்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது. உற்சாகமும் துறுதுறுப்பும் சிறு நகைச்சுவைக்கும் பெரிதாகச் சிரிக்கும் இயல்பும் கொண்டு வளையவந்தவர். அவ்வை சண்முகி, பம்மல் கே சம்பந்தம், பஞ்சதந்திரம் படங்களில் நாங்கள் இணைந்து வேலை செய்த காலங்களின் கலகலப்பு நினைவில் எழுகிறது. அவருக்கு என் அஞ்சலி. அவரது குடும்பத்தாருக்கும் என் ஆறுதல்களும் இரங்கல்களும்.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) October 17, 2026
Vairamuthu pays an emotional tribute
Lyricist and poet Vairamuthu remembered Deva, with whom he worked on several films, including Annamalai, Baashha, Arunachalam, Vaalee, Kushi, Nerrukku Ner, Aasai and Panchathanthiram.
He added, “My heartfelt condolences to his family and the fans mourning his loss. You were the one who sang, ‘Don’t worry, brother!’ And today, how can I possibly keep from grieving?”
சாவாப் பாடல்கள் தந்த தேவா மறைந்துவிட்டார் தேனிசைத் தென்றல் நின்று போயிற்றா? நெஞ்சு கனக்கிறது தன் பேச்சு மூச்சு அனைத்திலும் இசையாகவே இருந்தவர் சங்கீதத்தோடு இங்கிதம் தெரிந்தவர் பண்ணிசைக்கத் தெரிந்த பண்பாளர் அவரோடு நான் பணியாற்றிய அண்ணாமலை, பாட்ஷா அருணாசலம், வாலி, குஷி, நேருக்கு நேர், ஆசை, பஞ்ச தந்திரம் முதலிய நூற்றக்கணக்கான படங்களின் பாட்டு வெற்றிக்கு தேவாவே காரணம் தேவாவின் இசையைப்போல் ரஜினிக்கு வேறு யாரும் பொருந்தவில்லை என்றுதான் ரசிகர்கள் பேசுவார்கள் என்ன சொல்வது? எனக்கு என் விரல்களில் ஒன்று போய்விட்டது அவரை இழந்துவாடும் குடும்பத்தார்க்கும் ரசிகர்களுக்கும் என் ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல் கவலைப்படாதே சகோதரா என்று பாடியவனே! இன்றுநான் கவலைப்படாமல் என்ன செய்ய? #Deva | #தேவா
— வைரமுத்து (@Vairamuthu) October 17, 2026
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s office issues condolence
The office of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay issued a statement expressing grief over Deva’s death and acknowledging his contribution to Indian film music. The statement noted that the composer had worked on more than 400 films across four languages and had also written and sung numerous gaana songs.
It read, “I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Deva, the distinctive music composer of Tamil cinema, fondly known as ‘Thenisai Thendral’ and celebrated for winning the hearts of ordinary people through his gaana songs. Mr. Deva composed music for more than 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema.
He also wrote and sang numerous gaana songs himself. Honored with several awards, including the Kalaimamani, his musical journey and songs will remain an enduring part of the history of Indian film music. His passing is a tremendous loss to the Tamil film industry. I extend my heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to Mr. Deva’s grieving family, relatives, friends, members of the film fraternity and music lovers.”
தமிழ்த் திரையுலகின் தனித்துவமான இசையமைப்பாளரும், கானா பாடல்களால் எளிய மக்களின் மனங்களைக் கவர்ந்தவருமான ‘தேனிசைத் தென்றல்’ திரு.தேவா அவர்கள் மறைந்த செய்தியறிந்து மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியும், ஆழ்ந்த வேதனையும் அடைந்தேன். தமிழ், தெலுங்கு, மலையாளம், கன்னடம் ஆகிய மொழிகளில் 400-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட திரைப்படங்களுக்கு இசையமைத்ததோடு, பல கானா பாடல்களை எழுதி, அவரே பாடியும் உள்ளார். கலைமாமணி உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு விருதுகளைப் பெற்ற திரு.தேவா அவர்களின் இசைப் பயணமும், பாடல்களும் திரையிசை வரலாற்றில் என்றும் நிலைத்திருக்கும். அவரது மறைவு தமிழ்த் திரையுலகிற்கு பேரிழப்பாகும். இசையமைப்பாளர் திரு.தேவா அவர்களை இழந்துவாடும் குடும்பத்தினருக்கும், உறவினர்களுக்கும், நண்பர்களுக்கும், திரைத்துறையினருக்கும், இசை ரசிகர்களுக்கும் எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலையும், அனுதாபங்களையும் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) October 17, 2026
Vijay Sethupathi, Karthi and Khushbu Sundar mourn his demise
Vijay Sethupathi expressed his condolences in a social media post, remembering Deva’s contribution to Tamil film music.
“The passing of the composer Deva sir, who left an indelible mark in the music world of Tamil cinema, brings immense sorrow. His music and songs will forever live in our memories. Deepest condolences.”
Deva sir’s boundless energy and childlike innocence were as special as his music. He brought a unique joy to everything he did, and his melodies and vibrant chennai gaana will always remain a part of our lives. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. https://t.co/l3CeOfWWHQ
— Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) October 17, 2026
Heartfelt condolences on the passing of Thenisai Thendral Deva Sir. 💐🙏 Your timeless melodies and unforgettable songs will forever live in our hearts. Thank you for enriching Tamil music with your extraordinary talent. Rest in Peace, Legend. #RIPDevaSir #ThenisaiThendralDeva https://t.co/lDK6lpz8os
— 𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐂 𝐒 (@SamCSmusic) October 17, 2026
Karthi also paid tribute to the composer, recalling his energy and personality alongside his musical achievements.
Karthi shared on X, “Deva sir’s boundless energy and childlike innocence were as special as his music. He brought a unique joy to everything he did, and his melodies and vibrant chennai gaana will always remain a part of our lives. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends (sic).”
தமிழ் திரையுலகின் இசை உலகில் தனக்கென ஒரு முத்திரை பதித்த இசையமைப்பாளர் தேவா சார் அவர்களின் மறைவு மிகுந்த வேதனை அளிக்கிறது. அவரது இசையும், பாடல்களும் என்றும் நம் நினைவுகளில் வாழும். ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல் 🙏🏽 https://t.co/L4S1mTVVl1
— VijaySethupathi (@VijaySethuOffl) October 17, 2026
Extremely saddened to hear the passing away of #Deva sir.A complete allrounder when it came to music be it songs or background score and several movies in the 90s and 2000s became super hits and blockbusters mainly for his music.A wonderful human being who was truly humble and was a delight for Directors and Producers and of course Lead actors loved him for the kind of Mass elevations he had given them! A huge loss to the Film industry. My sincere condolences to his family,friends,relatives and fans. RIP dear sir🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 #Thenisaithendral
— Sibi Sathyaraj (@Sibi_Sathyaraj) October 17, 2026
Khushbu Sundar expressed shock at Deva’s death, recalling that she had seen him just days earlier.
She wrote, “Absolutely devastated. Unbelievable. A man who was healthy and laughing, blessing and was part of us just 10 days ago is gone. Its heartbreaking. Thenisai Thendral as he was known, was indeed a man as sweet as honey and light hearted as the wind. His contribution to the world of music and cinema is beyond. Gone too soon. Why?? You will be missed Deva Sir. Rest in peace (sic).”
Singer Chinmayi Sripaada was also among those who mourned the composer’s passing.
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