Home / Arts and Entertainment / Gaana Godfather Deva Dies at 75
Gaana Godfather Deva Dies at 75
17 Oct
Summary
- Music director Deva, famous for Rajinikanth film intros, died.
- He brought Chennai's street music to mainstream cinema.
- Deva composed music for over 400 films in multiple languages.
The music industry is mourning the loss of Deva, a celebrated composer, lyricist, and singer, who died in Chennai on Saturday at the age of 75. Deva was widely recognized as the "Gaana Godfather" for popularizing Chennai's street music within mainstream cinema.
He was particularly famous for composing the electrifying title-card music for Rajinikanth's films, a tradition he upheld for over three decades, starting with "Annamalai" and continuing with the recent "Jailer 2." His contributions also included unforgettable introductory songs for the superstar and anthems like "Naan Autokaaran."
Deva's musical journey began after working in television and stage shows. He made his film debut in 1989 and achieved a significant breakthrough in 1990. Over his illustrious career, he composed scores for more than 400 films in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam languages.
His repertoire of hits includes songs from acclaimed movies such as "Aasai," "Kaadhal Kottai," "Vaali," and "Panchathanthiram." Deva's musical influence extends beyond cinema, with his songs resonating at international film events. He is survived by his composer son, Srikanth Deva, and his brothers, Sabesh and Murali, who are also in the music business.
