Tamil music director Deva, widely known as 'Thenisai Thendral' and the 'Godfather of Gana songs', has died at 75 in Chennai following a cardiac arrest on Saturday, October 17, 2026. He was admitted to Suriya Hospital earlier that morning and passed away there. Born Devanesan Chokkalingam on November 20, 1950, Deva built a career spanning over four decades, composing music for more than 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema. His work became a defining sound of Tamil film music from the late 1980s through the 1990s and beyond, with his compositions often rooted in folk traditions and urban Chennai’s gana culture. The title 'Thenisai Thendral' — meaning 'the soul of melody', reflected his deep connection to music and his place in Tamil cinematic history. His songs were not just background scores but cultural touchstones, frequently becoming as popular as the films themselves. Among his most enduring contributions are the tracks from Rajinikanth-starrers Annamalai (1992), Baashha (1995), and Arunachalam (1997), all directed by Suresh Krissna. He also composed for films like Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Vaalee, Nerrukku Ner, Ninaithen Vandhai, Priyamudan, and Pammal K Sambandam (2002). His work extended into Malayalam cinema with titles such as The Prince (1996), King Soloman (1996), and Phantom (2002), featuring Mohanlal and Mammootty. Deva’s music was celebrated for its accessibility, energy, and emotional range. Spanning high-octane gaana numbers, romantic ballads, and devotional pieces. His ability to blend local rhythms with cinematic grandeur helped bring Chennai’s street music into mainstream film soundtracks. He received the Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu government in 1992 and won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director for Aasai in 1995. He also earned a Filmfare Award for Best Music Director in Kannada for Amrutha Varshini. Beyond composition, Deva sang many of his own songs and performed live, often wearing his signature white pyjama-kurta and sandals, a look reportedly inspired by Rajinikanth. His background score for comedian Goundamani’s antics in Sooriyan (1992) remains legendary, still drawing laughter in concerts decades later. His son Srikanth Deva is a well-known music director, while his brothers Sabesh and Murali worked together as the composing duo Sabesh-Murali. Deva continued contributing to music projects into recent years, including singing 'Open The Tasmac' for Anirudh Ravichander’s Maan Karate in 2014 and lending his voice to the Tamil-themed video game Venba in 2023. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay expressed profound grief, calling Deva’s passing an 'irreplaceable loss' to Tamil cinema and acknowledging his wide-reaching influence. Tributes are now being shared across the industry, with formal funeral arrangements and public memorials expected soon.