{
  "id": 15152828,
  "title": "Legendary Tamil music composer Deva, the man behind iconic Rajinikanth themes, dies at 75",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/legendary-tamil-music-composer-deva-the-man-behind-iconic-rajinikanth",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T07:13:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/legendary-tamil-music-composer-deva-the-man-behind-iconic-rajinikanth-themes-dies-at-75-1.500713953"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Legendary Tamil music composer Deva, renowned for his hits on superstar Rajinikanth’s soundtracks, passed away at the age of 75 in Chennai on Saturday. Diagnosed with chest pain, Deva was admitted to Surya Hospital, but doctors were unable to revive him despite their efforts. His demise has left a profound impact on the Tamil film industry, which revered him for his melodic compositions, folk-inspired tunes, and pioneering contributions to integrating Chennai’s gaana music into mainstream cinema.\n\nDevanesan Chokkalingam, Deva’s birth name, was born on November 20, 1950, and he rose to prominence in the 1990s as one of Tamil cinema’s leading composers. Over a prolific career, he scored music for numerous films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam languages. Known fondly as 'Thenisai Thendral,' meaning 'breeze of sweet music', he played a pivotal role in popularising gaana music in Tamil cinema, crafting songs that resonated with everyday listeners. His compositions often drew inspiration from Chennai’s street music traditions.\n\nDeva’s work with Rajinikanth, particularly on films like Annamalai, Baashha, and Arunachalam, became synonymous with the actor’s screen persona. The Baashha theme, in particular, became a signature anthem for the superstar. His versatility is evident in his collaborations with Kamal Haasan, notably in Avvai Shanmugi and Panchathanthiram. Apart from Tamil cinema, he also composed for Malayalam films such as The Prince and Phantom.\n\nBorn into a family with a strong background in the music industry—his son, Srikanth Deva, also became a music composer, and his brothers, Sabesh and Murali, were also involved—he trained in classical music, Western studies, and performed on stage before making his entry into films. He made his debut in the Tamil film industry with Maatukaara Mannaru, before earning wider recognition with Manasukketha Maharaasaa and Vaikasi Porandhaachu. His distinctive style blended romantic melodies, folk-inspired compositions, and energetic gaana numbers, solidifying his status as a versatile and sought-after composer.",
  "summary": "Veteran Tamil music composer and singer Deva, popularly known as ‘Thenisai Thendral’, died in Chennai on Saturday, October 17, aged 75, after complaining of chest pain. He was rushed to Surya Hospital on Saturday morning, but doctors could not revive him despite efforts to resuscitate him. Deva’s death has sent shockwaves through the Tamil film industry, where he earned a lasting reputation for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Deva, Tamil music maestro who held Malaysia close, dies at 75",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/deva-tamil-music-maestro-who-held-malaysia-close-dies-at-75",
        "published": "2026-10-17T07:11:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Music composer Deva, who created Rajinikanth’s intro music, dies at 75",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/music-composer-deva-who-created-rajinikanths-intro-music-dies-at-75",
        "published": "2026-10-17T07:34:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Tamil Nadu Governor Arlekar, CM Vijay express condolences over passing of composer Deva",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/tamil-nadu-governor-arlekar-cm-vijay-express-condolences-over-passing",
        "published": "2026-10-17T09:56:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}