Music Composer Deva dies at age 75

Respected and popular music composer Deva – popularly known as Thenisai Thendra Deva – passed away earlier this morning at the age of 75. He experienced severe chest pains this morning and was rushed to Surya Hospital where he sadly passed away.

Deva faced many challenges and career obstac;es but overcame them to rise to the top when Illaiyaraja was at his peak and A.R. Rahman had entered the scene. In 1992, when Rahman made his entry through the soundtrack of Roja, the number 1 selling album of that year was Deva’s Annamalai.

Deva had very humble beginnings and his family could not even afford a radio, Deva’s first exposure to music was through loudspeakers at shops, Temple festivals and in buses. He began to play the harmonium by ear and was soon in demand for stage productions.

In 1973, he teamed up with Chandhrabose to form the duo called Bose-Deva but when a film chance came their way in 1977, Chandhrabose decided to go solo.

A disappointed Deva then took a job as a floor assistant in Doordarshan TV but was suspended for 15 days for touching a piano. He then learnt music under Dhanraj Master, who was also Illaiyaraja’s Guru.

Deva then turned his attention to composing music for devotional albums and completed a phenomenal 450 albums before being persuaded by MS Viswanathan to try his hand at film music. It was MS Viswanathan who first started referring to Deva’s music as Thenisai Thendral.

Deva’s first film signing was for Ramarajan’s 1989 film, Manasuketha Magarasa but he found fame for his second film, the 1990 Prashanth-starrer, Vaigasi Porandhaachu.

With Illaiyaraja ruling with melodies and AR Rahman winning the hearts of the youth, Deva had to find his own niche and he did so by introducing gana songs to films. He did this while still providing melodious and foot-tapping hits.

With more than 400 films to his credit, Deva has enjoyed a slew of hits with all major actors of his time, including Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, and Kamalhassan. He also played a major role in bolstering the films of Vijay, Ajithkumar, Sathyaraj, Karthik, Vijayakanth and Prabhu in his heydays, the 1990s.

Deva’s composition for Rajinikanth’s title card remains in use today and was also used in Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2, currently on circuit.

Deva is best known for his simplicity, humility and warm nature. He was deeply respected and a popular figure in the worlds of film and music.