{
  "id": 15162490,
  "title": "Veteran Tamil Music Composer Deva Dies At 75 In Chennai, Leaving Behind Lasting Legacy Of Iconic Songs And Memorable Film Scores",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/veteran-tamil-music-composer-deva-dies-at-75-in-chennai-leaving",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-17T08:20:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/veteran-tamil-music-composer-deva-dies-at-75-in-chennai-leaving-behind-a-lasting-legacy-of-iconic-gana-songs-and-memorable-film-scores"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chennai witnessed the passing of notable music composer Deva, a beloved figure for his distinctive gana style, on Saturday. The Thiru. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the renowned music director, whose exceptional contributions to Tamil film music greatly enriched the cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu. Deva, 75 years old, passed away at a private hospital in the city, as reported by sources. Deva's enduring legacy consists of a plethora of memorable gana songs that he gifted to the Tamil-speaking populace, serving as a reflection of their likes, dislikes, and the vibrant spirit of the youth community. Throughout his nearly four-decade career, Deva composed music for over 400 films, including blockbuster hits such as Rajinikanth-starrers Annamalai (1992) and Baasha (1995), directed by Suresh Krissna. Additionally, his work on Kamal Haasan's Pammal K Sambandam (2002) and Panchathanthiram, released in the same year, further solidified his impact on Tamil cinema. Deva, known for his resonant and powerful voice, also contributed to the film industry through his exceptional background scores. Some of his most memorable compositions include the pulsating score from Baasha and the iconic track from Goundamani's comedy film Sooriyan (1992), which continues to linger in the memories of moviegoers. The film fraternity, including Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, and various political leaders, mourned the loss of Deva, acknowledging his profound impact on the Tamil film music landscape.",
  "summary": "Chennai: Noted music composer Deva, hugely popular for his unique 'gana' style, died here on Saturday. Thiru. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, expresses his profound grief over the demise of renowned music director Deva, whose remarkable contribution to Tamil film music enriched the cultural landscape of Tamil Nadu. Through his memorable compositions,……",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Veteran Tamil music composer Deva passes away after illness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/veteran-tamil-music-composer-deva-passes-away-after-illness",
        "published": "2026-10-17T06:28:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}