OCTOBER 20, NEW YORK
Oscar-winning scorewriter A.R. Rahman redefined the music in three of Rajinikanth’s movies, using folksy rhythms tinged with occasional soul in "Muthu"; carnatic leanings and bossa nova flirtations in "Padaiyappa" and techno pop to string-powered love melodies in "Enthiran". Yet, the so-called “Mozart of Madras” could not own the music for Rajini’s walk. That honor belonged to one composer alone — Deva.
Across an extraordinary career spanning four decades and over four hundred films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema, Deva built a soundscape that bridged every stratum of society. He possessed a rare, innate genius for immediate melodic registration, crafting compositions that established permanency in a listener’s soul on the very first pass.
In Rajini’s case, the signature “hey … hey … hey …” background cry accompanying the Tamil superstar’s most dramatic scenes in the 1995 “Baasha" became an institution. At that time, Deva had no idea of the force he was about to unleash. Every Rajini film over the past 30 years has since used Deva’s thematic cry when the superstar’s credits appear for the first time. Think of it as James Bond’s signature anthem, for the Tamil masses.
"Honestly, when we recorded that 'hey... hey... hey...' cue in the studio for Baashha, we had no grand plan,” Deva said when asked about it during a guest appearance on Vijay TV’s Super Singer Junior talent show in September 2026.
“It wasn't written as some revolutionary theme song, nor did we realize we were creating a permanent trademark," he recalled. "It was just a raw, spontaneous burst of vocal energy created right there during re-recording to match Rajini saar's electric screen presence and the rhythm of his walk. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that a simple background chant would outlive decades and become the defining anthem whenever Superstar Rajinikanth's name appears on screen."
The comments were vintage Deva, who's known as much for his humility as his musical genius. They would also be his last reflections on his music. Just weeks after that appearance, “Thenissai Thendral (Honey-Like Melody) Deva” succumbed to a cardiac arrest on October 17, 2026, at the age of 75.
During the early to mid-1990s, when Tamil cinema's musical landscape was dominated by the entrenched genius of Ilaiyaraaja and the groundbreaking rise of Rahman, carving out an independent identity was a formidable task — especially when other amazing composing talents like Vidyasagar were emerging. Yet, Deva forged a distinct, unmistakable path of his own.
From his first Tamil movie music album — "Maattukara Mannaru" — in 1986, Deva composed for just under five hundred South Indian films of multiple languages.
His artistry effortlessly swung between the raw, folk energy of working-class Madras — a sound known as “Gaana” — and the lushly arranged, complex love and dance melodies that defined the peak era of 1990s South Indian cinema.
For Rajinikanth, Deva’s music in "Annamalai" — the story of a simple cowherd who rose to riches — was as captivating as Baasha’s, which featured a reformed don as an auto-rickshaw man earning a quiet living for his family.
For Kamal Haasan, Tamil filmdom’s other mega celebrity, Deva’s work in “Avvai Shanmugi” was foundational in establishing the gender-swapping role of the protagonist in the Tamil remake of 1990s Hollywood comedy Mrs. Doubtfire.
Deva also forged a deeply resonant artistic kinship with vocalist Hariharan, whose pristine renditions elevated hit tracks in blockbusters like "Nerukku Ner". Whether composing for actor-turned-Tamilnadu Chief Minister Vijay or filmstar-racecar driver Ajith, Deva delivered defining soundtracks for every leading man and woman of the era, as cemented by classic albums such as "Kushi" for Vijay and "Kadhal Kottai" for Ajith.
From crafting tender romantic lilts to deeply emotional background scores that elevated rural family sagas, or high-energy urban dramas, he treated every genre with equal reverence, precision, and soul.
Beyond his music, Deva remained a humble steward of his craft, viewing his work not as a solo triumph but a shared pilgrimage with his orchestra, family and fans. During the Super Singer Junior appearance, his long-time crew members surprised him by turning up as special guests on stage, moving Deva to a teary tribute where he thanked the universe for the opportunity to serve and be loved by so many.
With his passing, the South Indian film industry bids farewell to a master craftsman whose soundscape was a true reflection of the soil and its people. BARANIKRISHNAN@SABTHAM'STV
