Composer Deva, who took Chennai's gaana tradition into mainstream cinema, dies aged 75 at a private hospital
Composer Deva, known as Thenisai Thendral Deva, died aged 75 at a private hospital, according to two outlets on Saturday, October 17. Sources said he breathed his last at the hospital. One report described his music as bridging the earthy rhythms of Chennai's gaana tradition and mainstream cinema. Funeral live updates were carried by The Hindu. The cause of death was not given in the material we reviewed. Two outlets carried the news.
Gaana is a street-music tradition from Chennai, and Deva's work brought it into films that reached audiences across Tamil Nadu. Colleagues, film unions, singers who worked with him and fans who grew up with his songs are the people most affected.
Follow the funeral arrangements through official film-association notices and family statements. If you collect his music, listen to the film soundtracks credited to him rather than unverified playlists or edited clips.
A tradition that began on Chennai's streets reached cinemas and a wider audience through one man's tunes.
DailyDrop India edition No. 14 · Morning · SUN., OCT. 18, 2026