homage to - தேனிசைத்தென்றல் தேவா

 

வெள்ளி நிலா வானத்திலே வெளிச்சம் தரும் நேரத்திலே

துள்ளி வரும் காவேரிப்போல் நடந்து வந்தாள் பாதையிலே!

நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே நீ புகுந்து நேசத்துக்குள் என்னை வச்சு

கண்ணுக்குள்ளே உன்னை வச்சு காவல் காப்பேன் அத்த மகளே!

 

Heard this song !! 

In the entertainment industry, he would not only be remembered for so many hit songs – more so for his character, his outwardly friendliness, his smile and helping tendency – very sad to know that  Thenisai thenral Deva is no more!!!

ஓம் அருணாச்சலேஸ்வராய நம: போன்ற அற்புத பாடல்கள் இசையமைத்த, தமிழ், தெலுங்கு, மலையாளம், கன்னடம் என 25  வருடங்களுக்கு மேலாக முன்னணி இசையமைப்பாளராக திகழ்ந்த நல்ல மனிதர்  திரு தேவா மறைவு வருத்தத்தை அளிக்கிறது.  நெற்றி நிறைய விபூதிக் கீற்று, நடுவே   குங்குமம்,   சின்ன கீற்றுக்கண்கள், நெடிய நாசி, பட்டை மீசை, முகத்தில் எப்போதும் அணிந்திருக்கும் அழகான சிரிப்பு. இவர் தான் இசையமைப்பாளர் தேனிசைத்தென்றல் தேவா.

Deva  composed music for over 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, including iconic blockbusters like Annamalai, Baashha, Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Vaalee, and Kushi. He also composed Rajinikanth's famous title-card theme music.  Though he is widely acclaimed  as the "Godfather of Gaana"   bringing Chennai's street-style gaana music into the mainstream of Tamil cinema, he has given many melodies worth hearing again and again. .

His son Srikanth Deva is also a music composer, as are his brothers, who have formed the duo Sabesh–Murali. Mr Deva died from a sudden cardiac arrest at Surya Hospital in Kodambakkam, Chennai on 17 October 2026 at the age of 75

Some of his evergreen hits would include the high energy - “Vanthenda Paalkaran” — Annamalai (1992; “Naan Autokaaran” — Baashha (1995); “Konja Naal Poru Thalaiva” — Aasai (1995); “Kavalai Padathey Sagothara” — Kadhal Kottai ; “Aval Varuvala” — Nerrukku Ner ; “Manam Virumbuthey” — Nerrukku Ner ; “Meenamma” — Arunachalam;   “Salomiya” — Once More (1997); “Megam Karukkuthu” — Ninaithen Vandhai  and more !!  

The song at the start is from Mattukkara Mannaru which was his first movie. This movie was released in 1986, starred Chandrasekar, Aswini, Arunthathi, directed by Thenral Thiyagarajan who also wrote lyrics for this song.  It was sung by legendary TM Soundararajan.

Deva Sir would ever remembered for his music, nice conduct, smiles, vibuthi in his forehead  and overt friendliness. I have heard many of his songs again and again – sad on his departure !

Here is a picture taken    with Mr Devanesan Chokkalingam, more popularly known as Deva, in 2023 at Hyderabad airport.  

Regards – S Sampathkumar