Tamil Nadu Governor Arlekar, CM Vijay express condolences over passing of composer Deva

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Saturday (October 17, 2026) expressed his “deep condolences” over the demise of Tamil film music composer Deva.

The musician passed away in Chennai on Saturday at age 75.

Mr. Arlekar said, “Through his sweet compositions and unforgettable songs, Deva had carved a unique place in the Tamil film music world. His passing is an irreplaceable loss to the Tamil film industry and the music world.”

The Governor conveyed his deep condolences to the bereaved family members, the film industry, and all music lovers.

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay expressed shock at the news of Deva’s passing, and conveyed his condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues in the film industry. In a statement on social media, Mr. Vijay said that Deva “captivated the hearts of the common people with his folk songs.”

“He composed music for over 400 films in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages, and has also written and sung many folk songs himself. Thiru. Deva, who received numerous awards including the Kalaimamani, his musical journey, and songs will forever endure in the history of film music. His demise is an irreplaceable loss to Tamil cinema,” he said.

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‘A great human being’

DMK president M.K. Stalin said Deva had composed not only mass songs for heroes of Tamil cinema but also melodies and light-music numbers.

He said Deva’s compositions for Rajinikanth had brought him immense success and fame. “Rajinikanth’s name appearing on the screen to Deva’s background score speaks volumes about the power of his music. There is no auto stand that has not resonated with his ‘Autokaran’ song. His songs for Kamal Haasan-starrers Avvai Shanmugi and Panchathanthiram, in which comedy is a recurring theme, are also memorable,” he said.

Mr. Stalin recalled that former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had conferred on Deva the title ‘Thenisai Thendral’.

Mr. Stalin said Deva had carved a niche for himself in a film industry dominated by Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman. “He is not just a creative musician. Above all, he is a great human being who has been friendly with everyone,” he said.

The history of Tamil film music could not be written without acknowledging Deva’s contribution, Mr. Stalin said.

‘Voice of the 90s generation’

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B. Manickam Tagore said that he was deeply saddened to learn about the passing ‘Thenisai Thendral’ Deva.

He said, “He was the voice of the 90s generation — who made us dance to his vibrant gaana numbers and moved our hearts with his soulful melodies. He had the unique gift of turning the emotions of the common man into unforgettable film music.”

He further said that his music in over 400 films like Annamalai, Baashha, Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Vaalee, and Kushi, will forever remain a treasure.