Veteran music composer Deva passed away at the age of 75 following a heart attack at a private hospital in Chennai. His death prompted mourning across the film industry, with prominent figures attending his funeral.
Singer Chinmayi Sripaada penned a detailed tribute recalling her interactions with the composer. She noted that while Deva was not fluent in Hindi, he possessed a remarkable ability to sing complex ghazals. She recounted recording sessions where he would perform compositions by legendary artists like Mehdi Hasan and Ghulam Ali with great skill, despite expressing modesty about his vocal abilities.
Chinmayi expressed regret that she never had the opportunity to witness him perform a ghazal live on stage. She praised his consistent positivity, kindness, and encouragement during recording sessions, a supportive approach she noted is continued by his son Srikanth.
Born Devanesan Chokkalingam, the composer scored music for over 400 South Indian films across a career that began with his 1986 debut Tamil film Maattukara Mannaru. He created enduring cinematic themes, including the signature introduction music used by superstar Rajinikanth.