CHENNAI: Deva, the music director whose "Superstar" title-card music has announced every Rajinikanth film since 1992, including the latest, Jailer 2, died in Chennai on Saturday. He was 75.
He complained of chest pain on Saturday morning and was taken to Surya Hospital. He died despite efforts to resuscitate him, doctors said.
The godfather of Gaana, Deva was a music director, lyricist and singer who took the street music of Chennai into mainstream cinema. He wrote and sang many of his own gaana numbers and was a rage through the 1990s. The songs he made popular are now sung even at international film events.
For Rajinikanth, he created the vibe for the star's introductory songs, including those in Annamalai and Bashaa. Naan Autokaaran became an anthem for autorickshaw drivers in this part of the country.
Born Devanesan Chokkalingam on Nov 20, 1950, in Mylapore, he came to film music after working in television and stage shows. He worked at Doordarshan's Podhigai channel and composed songs for the farming programme Vayalum Vaazhvum.
While his brothers, Sabesh and Murali, were also in the music business, his son, Srikanth Deva, is a composer too.
Deva made his debut in 1989 with Manasukketha Maharaasaa. Prashanth's Vaikasi Porandhaachu in 1990 gave him his big break.
His other hits included Aasai, Kaadhal Kottai, Naerukku Ner, Vaali, Avvai Shanmugi, Kushi and Panchathanthiram. He worked in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, and his scores run to more than 400 films.
Members of the film industry posted messages in memory of Deva.