Deva Dies At 75: Veteran Music Composer Behind Rajinikanth’s Iconic ‘Superstar’ BGM Passes Away
Published: October 17, 2026, 1:04 PM IST
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Music composer Deva dies (PC- Instagram)
The South Indian film industry is mourning the loss of veteran music composer Deva, who died in Chennai on October 17 at the age of 75Known for his memorable songs and powerful background scores, Deva composed music for hundreds of films across Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam cinemaHe was also the composer behind the iconic theme associated with Rajinikanth’s on-screen ‘Superstar’ title card in Annamalai.
According to reports by DT Next and Sun News, Deva suffered a heart attack and was admitted to a private hospital in Kodambakkam, Chennai, at around 8:30 am on SaturdayHe later died at the hospitalFurther details about the circumstances of his death are awaited.
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Khushbu Sundar, Vijay Sethupathi and others mourn Deva’s death
Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar expressed shock over Deva’s death, revealing that she had met the composer just 10 days earlierSharing his photograph on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “Absolutely devastatedUnbelievableA man who was healthy and laughing, blessing and was part of us just 10 days ago is goneIts heartbreakingThenisai Thendral as he was known, was indeed a man as sweet as honey and light hearted as the windHis contribution to the world of music and cinema is beyondGone too soonWhy?? You will be missed Deva SirRest in peace#Deva #thenisaithendral #OmShanti.”
Actor Sibi Sathyaraj also paid tribute to the veteran composer, remembering his contribution to songs and background scoresHe wrote, “Extremely saddened to hear the passing away of #Deva sir.A complete allrounder when it came to music be it songs or background score and several movies in the 90s and 2000s became super hits and blockbusters mainly for his music.A wonderful human being who was truly humble and was a delight for Directors and Producers and of course Lead actors loved him for the kind of Mass elevations he had given them! A huge loss to the Film industryMy sincere condolences to his family, friends, relatives and fansRIP dear sir#Thenisaithendral.”
Actor Vijay Sethupathi also remembered Deva’s contribution to Tamil cinemaHe wrote, “The passing of the composer Deva sir, who left an indelible mark on the music world of Tamil cinema, brings immense sorrowHis music and songs will forever live in our memoriesDeepest condolences,”
Singer Chinmayi expressed her grief, writing, “Just dont know how to process the passing of Deva SirHuge loss.”
Fans also paid tribute to the composer, with many recalling his music for Rajinikanth after hearing it in theatres during the opening of Jailer 2One fan wrote, “Just before a day was celebrating his composing in theatre #Jailer2..RIP #Deva sirUr songs & BGM will always travel lifelong,”
Who was music composer Deva?
Born Devanesan Chokkalingam on November 20, 1950, Deva was just weeks away from turning 76During his career, he composed music for more than 400 films across South Indian cinema. He made his debut as a film composer with the 1986 Tamil film Maattukara Mannaru and went on to work with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Ajith Kumar and Pawan Kalyan.
One of his most enduring contributions was the music for Rajinikanth’s 1992 film AnnamalaiThe score associated with the ‘Superstar Rajni’ title card continues to be recognised by fans and remains closely linked to the actor’s screen presence.
Known by the name ‘Thenisai Thendral’, Deva leaves behind a lasting musical legacy through his songs, background scores and collaborations with generations of South Indian film stars.
