{
  "id": 15391356,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: Tamil music maestro Deva, who loved Malaysia, dies at 75",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/showbiz-tamil-music-maestro-deva-who-loved-malaysia-dies-at-75",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T10:00:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/10/1558340/showbiz-tamil-music-maestro-deva-who-loved-malaysia-dies-75"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Veteran Tamil film composer and singer Deva, affectionately known as Thenisai Thendral, passed away at the age of 75 in Chennai. Deva's career spanned nearly four decades, during which he composed songs and background scores for over 400 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. His music, which popularised gaana—a folk music tradition rooted in Chennai's working-class communities—earned him a devoted following in Malaysia and beyond. Deva's contributions to music were recognised with prestigious awards, including the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani award and a state film award for his work on Aasai. His musical legacy continues through his son, composer Srikanth Deva, and brothers Sabesh and Murali, who have also worked in the film music industry. Tributes from the Indian film industry and Malaysian listeners alike mourn the loss of a composer whose melodies transcended borders and remained cherished by generations of Tamil music lovers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "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": "Gulf News",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-10-17T07:13:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "‘Baasha’ composer Deva, king of Tamil cinema’s ‘gana’ sound, dies at 75",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/baasha-composer-deva-king-of-tamil-cinemas-gana-sound-dies-at-75",
        "published": "2026-10-17T11:35:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Tamil Nadu: ‘Thenisai Thendral’ Deva laid to rest amid tears, tributes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/tamil-nadu-thenisai-thendral-deva-laid-to-rest-amid-tears-tributes",
        "published": "2026-10-18T12:49:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}