Tamil Composer Deva, Who Scored 400+ Films, Mourned by Stars

The Tamil film industry is mourning Deva, the veteran composer known to fans as Thenisai Thendral, after his death on 17 October 2026. Across more than 400 films in four languages, his sound became part of Indian cinema’s everyday texture, especially through the gaana songs he wrote and sang himself.

A superstar’s farewell

Rajinikanth visited Deva’s residence to pay his last respects and later shared a video message. He remembered their work on Annamalai, Baashha and Arunachalam, and spoke about the difficult conversation before Padayappa, when he wanted AR Rahman to score the film.

Deva’s response became the story of the day. Rajinikanth recalled that the composer stood up, shook his hand and said “Of course, you should do it with him,” adding that he was grateful to have done even three films with the star.

“He is such a man with no hidden malice and with a heart of gold,” Rajinikanth said.

Rajinikanth also remembered Deva’s early years, when he performed kacheri programmes at weddings to support his brothers, and how he kept looking after his siblings after success.

Tributes across generations

Kamal Haasan said the news was a shock, recalling the humour and enthusiasm Deva brought to Avvai Shanmugi, Pammal K. Sambandam and Panchathanthiram. Lyricist Vairamuthu wrote that Deva’s death felt like losing one of his own fingers, and credited him for the success of songs across films from Annamalai to Panchathanthiram.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s office called his passing a tremendous loss to the Tamil film industry and noted his Kalaimamani honour. Social media tributes followed from Karthi, Vijay Sethupathi and singer Chinmayi Sripaada, among others.

• Rajinikanth: visited Deva’s residence and told the Padayappa handshake story.
• Kamal Haasan: remembered the joy on three of their comic collaborations.
• Vairamuthu: said losing Deva was like losing a finger.
• Karthi, Vijay Sethupathi and Chinmayi: joined the wave of public mourning.

Why Deva’s sound still matters

For a generation of fans, Deva was the sound of the 90s and 2000s: mass background scores, cheerful melodies and gaana numbers that stayed close to the street. Vairamuthu noted that fans often said no composer suited Rajinikanth as perfectly as Deva did.

His grace over the Padayappa handover also says a lot about the man behind the music. At a moment when his career was at a peak, he made room for a younger composer and turned an uncomfortable conversation into a blessing.

His songs, as Rajinikanth and others said, will echo for generations.

Source: Filmfare

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#Celebrity Tributes#Deva#Gaana songs#Kamal Haasan#Music#Rajinikanth#South Indian Films#Tamil cinema