Quick Info
| Profession | Film composer, music director and playback singer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 20/11/1950 |
| Age | 75 years (died on 17, Oct, 2026) |
| Birthplace | Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Date of Death | 17/10/2026 |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
Latest News about Deva
17/10/2026
Veteran Tamil composer and playback singer Deva died in Chennai at the age of 75 after reportedly suffering a heart attack. He was admitted to Surya Hospital that morning, where doctors could not revive him. Tributes poured in from the film industry and politicians, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
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Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Devanesan Chokkalingam |
|---|---|
| Known As | Thenisai Thendral Deva, Father of the Gaana Genre |
| Summary | Deva is a Tamil film composer and singer who has worked across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cinema and is credited with bringing gaana music into mainstream Tamil films. |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Music Training | Learned classical music under Dhanraj and completed a Western music course at Trinity College of Music, London |
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Personal Life
| Background | Born into an Adi Dravidar family to M. C. Chokkalingam and M. C. Krishnaveni |
|---|---|
| Early Interests | Showed an attraction to music in childhood and staged musical programmes with Chandra Bose |
Relationships & More
| Collaborators | Has worked with mentors and contemporaries and frequently invited them to sing in his compositions |
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Family
| Father | M. C. Chokkalingam |
|---|---|
| Mother | M. C. Krishnaveni |
| Son | Srikanth Deva, music director |
| Brothers | Sabesh and Murali, who form the music director duo Sabesh-Murali |
Career
| Debut | Entered film music as a music director with Manasukkeththa Maharaasaa in 1989 |
|---|---|
| Breakthrough | Vaikaasi Poranthaachu, which was a major hit |
| Filmography | Has composed music for more than 400 films |
| Notable Works |
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| Notable Contribution | Popularised the gaana genre in Tamil cinema |
| Other Work | Worked in television before entering films and has also sung extensively as a playback singer |
| Honours | Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu government; Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Worked in television before entering cinema | |
| 2. Frequently sang in songs composed by other music directors | |
| 3. Known for blending North Chennai folk forms into film songs |
