Deva, Composer Who Shaped Rajinikanth's Stardom, Dies at 75 in Chennai
· Entertainment · Times of India, The Hindu, India Today
Veteran Tamil music composer Deva passed away in Chennai on Saturday at the age of 75 after experiencing chest pain. Known widely as the godfather of Gaana, he blended street music from Chennai into mainstream Indian cinema across a career spanning more than 400 films. He composed the iconic Superstar title-card music for Rajinikanth films starting in 1992, along with popular introductory tracks for hits such as Annamalai and Bashaa. Born Devanesan Chokkalingam in Mylapore, he debuted in 1989 with Manasukketha Maharaasaa and went on to deliver chart-topping scores for films including Aasai, Kaadhal Kottai, and Kushi. Members of the film industry shared tributes following his death.
Why it matters
His death marks the passing of a foundational figure in Tamil cinema who shaped the soundscape of Kollywood for decades and brought Chennai's street music into mainstream films.
Read the original report — Times of India
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