Deva, the Tamil film composer who carried the street sound of Chennai’s gaana tradition into mainstream cinema and scored some of Rajinikanth’s best-loved films, died in Chennai on Saturday, October 17, 2026. He was 75.
The Hindu reported that, according to hospital sources, he had no pulse by the time he arrived and attempts to revive him failed. Actress and politician Khushbu Sundar wrote that he had been healthy and laughing with colleagues only about ten days earlier.
From the PWD to 400-plus films
Born Devanesan Chokkalingam, Deva worked for the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department before music took over. Per The Indian Express, the nickname that stayed with him, Thenisai Thendral (“breeze of sweet music”), was bestowed in 1985 by the veteran composer M.S. Viswanathan, who publicly urged the film industry to give him work.
His screen debut, Mattukkara Mannaru (1986), flopped, though its songs found an audience later. Vaikasi Poranthachu (1990) earned him his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award, and Annamalai made him one of the busiest names in the business. He went on to define Rajinikanth’s larger-than-life screen image with Baashha and Arunachalam, and is widely credited with the theme music that heralds the star’s entrance.
His output was remarkable: more than 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema, including 36 in 1996 alone, according to The Indian Express. Beyond film, he recorded devotional music with singers such as Sirkazhi Govindarajan and P. Susheela.
State honours
Rajinikanth was among those who paid their last respects, NDTV reported. The Tamil Nadu government said he would receive full State honours, with The Hindu reporting that his remains would lie at his T. Nagar residence until Sunday afternoon before being taken to his native village of Mangadu, near Arcot in Ranipet district, for the final rites on October 18.
Featured image: R. Ashok/The Hindu, via The Hindu.