Deva, the original Vibe Master of ’90s Tamil cinema

I vividly remember the internet atmosphere when a phrase from Western pop-culture slang — ‘Vibe Master’, meaning someone who sets the mood and atmosphere of a space through their music — reached Tamil social media a few years ago. While many modern composers got aesthetic meme edits, those of us who grew up in the 90s and 2000s knew — to speak in internet slang — the ‘OG’ Vibe Masters of 90s Tamil cinema: SA Rajkumar and ‘Thenisai Thendral’ Deva. And while Rajkumar’s music deserves its own dissection, it’s no stretch to say very few composers of that time had the range Deva boasted.

His music will always be the evergreen time capsule to the ‘90s.

The Superstar vibe: 

It’s the Superstar season, and hence there couldn’t be a better place to start. Deva gave Rajinikanth some of his most memorable songs, having composed music for three of his biggest blockbusters: Baashha (1995), Annamalai (1992), and Arunachalam (1997). From ‘Naan Autokaraan,’ ‘Athanda Ithanda’, ‘Ra Ra Ramayya’and ‘Vandhenda Paalkaran’ to ‘Kondayil Thaazham Poo’, ‘Style Style Thaan’ and ‘Singam Ondru,’ there are just too many Deva gems to reminisce about. But my pick from these albums that is so definitive of the 90s is ‘Alli Alli Anarkali’ from Arunachalam, and, purely for its impact on Tamil masala filmmaking, the titular theme song from Baashha.

‘Laalakku Dol Dappi Ma’ from Suriyan (1992), an entry point into Deva’s gaanawood

This gloriously catchy banger is a great entry point into the world of Deva’s gaana. “Hey attak battak, dimikkadikkura dol baiya dapsa, uttaam paaru kapsa” — if reading these lines puts a smile on your face, you know why I picked this first among all other gaana tracks (of course, the visuals of the song have aged poorly). While singer Mano’s rendition is memorable, one certainly looks forward to the portions sung by late sensation S Janaki. If you have landed safely after that trip, get on the gaana-ship to ‘Anjaam Number Busile’ from Porkkaalam (1997) and ‘Doddabetta Roadu Mela Mutta Barotta’ from Vishnu (1995). If you think I missed mentioning some tracks, worry not, for there are more gaana options in the subheads below.

Prabhu Deva and Deva, an evergreen combo

Look, I hail from that part of the city where ‘Kathadikuthu kathadikuthu kaasimettu kaththadikkuthu’ becomes a lived-in reality. This evergreen gaana bar song is a peppy trip to that era when Prabhu Deva danced across most CRT television sets in Tamil Nadu. But the visual that is so vividly etched in my head is Prabhu Deva and Dhamu’s hilarious charades in ‘Thirupathi Ezhumala Venkatesha,’ a cheeky, absurd and delightfully catchy song that defines 90s Tamil cinema.

Deva’s ‘Ajith Kumar mania’

The 90s also saw the coming up of one of Tamil cinema’s most prolific stars, Ajith Kumar. And even Ajith would tell you how crucial Deva’s chartbuster albums were in taking Ajith’s charisma beyond the then popularly called business category ‘A-centre.’ ‘Konjam Naal Poru Thalaiva’ from Aasai (1995), ‘Vellerikka Pinju Vellerikka’ and ‘Kavalai Padathe Sagodhara’ from Kadhal Kottai (1996) and ‘Udhayam Theatrula’ from Aananda Poongatre (1999) are gaana gold, and I realise not many know about the Vinayakar Chaturthi gaana anthem (you read that right), ‘Pillayarpatti Hero’ from Vaanmathi (1996). But my pick of the lot would be ‘Loyola College Laila’ from Kalloori Vaasal (1996), which also starred Prashanth in the lead.

Deva, an architect of the ‘90s romantic soundscape

Any throwback to 90s Ajith would be incomplete without ‘Konjam Naal Poru Thalaiva’ and ‘Pulveli Pulveli’ from Aasai (1995). Deva was also an architect of the ‘90s romantic soundscape. If he could belt out gaana adrenaline shots and celebrate Rajinism, Deva could also melt your heart with his very affecting romantic melodies. I would start my trip with ‘April Maathathil’ from Vaalee (1999) and then go to ‘Kadhala Kadhala’ from Avvai Shanmugi (1996) and ‘Manam Virumbuthey’ or ‘Aval Varuvala’ from Nerrukku Ner (1997).I could go on with tracks like ‘Nalam Nalamariya Aaval’ from Kadhal Kottai (1996), ‘Vanna Nilave’ from Ninaithen Vandhai (1998), or ‘Mudhan Mudhalil Parthen’ from Aahaa (1997). Even songs like ‘Oh Sona’ and ‘Un Per Solla Aasaithaan’ are as definitive of the era’s vibe, but if there were a track that instantly takes you back to those bright, chirpy musical mornings of that era, it is ‘Oru Mani Adithal’ from Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga (1997).

With the passing of thenisai thendral, Tamil Nadu mourns an artiste who captured the energy of an era so passionately that looking back at the 90s will never be the same again. Adiós, our eternal vibe master.