Deva | |
|---|---|
 Thenisai Thendral Deva | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Devanesan Chokkalingam (1950-11-20)20 November 1950 (age 75)[1] |
| Origin | Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation(s) | Film composer, music director |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals (playback singing), guitar, keyboard/harmonium/piano |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Devanesan Chokkalingam, more popularly known asThenisai Thendral Deva, is an Indian composer and singer who predominantly works inTamil cinema. He has composed songs and provided background music forTamil,Kannada,Telugu, andMalayalam films in a career closing in on four decades. He has composed music for more than 400 films.
Deva was born on 20 November 1950 to M. C. Chokkalingam and M. C. Krishnaveni. Even in his childhood, Deva was attracted to the world of music. Teaming up withChandra Bose, he staged many musical programmes. He started learning classical music from JB Krishna and continued the same with Dhanraj and has completed a course in Western music atTrinity College of Music in London. His sonSrikanth Deva is also a music composer, as are his brothers, who have formed the duoSabesh–Murali. His nephewJai is an actor and Music Composer. Srikanth's wifeFebi is a playback singer.
Before coming to cinema, Deva worked for some time in Doordarshan Podhigai channel and composed songs for the showVayalum Vaazhvum.[2] In those days, Deva's brothers were working in the musical troupes ofIllayaraja and other music directors as instrumentalists. His first film,Manasukketha Maharasa, was released in 1989. He was then called to work on the movieVaigasi Poranthachu. After the release ofVaikaasi Poranthaachu, his name became known throughout the Tamil community.[1]
The great music composerM. S. Viswanathan called him “thenisai thendral”, or the breeze of sweet music. So far, he has composed music for more than 400 films, which include Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films. He is also famous for his compositions for religious films. He was widely acclaimed for his scores for the Rajinikanth starrerAnnaamalai (1992) andBaashha (1995).
In 1996, Deva composed tunes for 36 movies. His scores played a big role in the emergence of actorsAjith Kumar andVijay, with hits such asAasai (1995),Kadhal Kottai (1996),Nerrukku Ner (1997),Ninaithen Vandhai (1998),Priyamudan (1998),Vaalee (1999),Kushi (2000) helping them establish themselves as the next-generation superstars.[3]
In 2014,Anirudh Ravichander chose Deva to sing a gaana song in his albumMaan Karate.[4]
In 2023, Deva collaborated with lyricist Alpha Something and game developer Visai Games to create a song for the video gameVenba, drawing heavily from themes of Tamil culture.[5][6][7]
In 1990, he received his firstTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director. He received the Tamil Nadu Government'sKalaimamani Award in the year 1992. In 1995, the filmAasai brought him another state film award. ForBaashha, he got the Tamil Nadu Arts and Cultural Academy Award. He received an award by Guinness world records forSivappu Mazhai as the world fastest movie from script to screening. He has also been honoured by awards from popular journals likeDinakaran,Cinema Express andScreen. He won theFilmfare Award for Best Music Director - Kannada filmAmrutha Varshini.[8][9]
| Year | Film title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Raja | |
| Amrutha Varshini | Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada; Dubbed in Tamil asUyirinum Melaaga | |
| 2000 | Independence Day | |
| Vande Matharam | ||
| Galate Aliyandru | ||
| Jithendra | ||
| 2001 | Kotigobba | Remake ofBaasha Reused two songs fromBaasha Reused one song fromArunachalam |
| 2002 | Naanu Naane | |
| Nata | Remake ofPriyamudan Reused four songs fromPriyamudan | |
| Sainika | ||
| Simhadriya Simha | Remake ofNattamai; reused one song from said film, reused one song fromKattabomman | |
| 2003 | Vijayadashami | |
| Raja Narasimha | Reused one song fromMadhumathi (1993) | |
| 2004 | Kadamba | Reused one song fromAnnamalai |
| 2005 | Vishnu Sena | |
| 2008 | Akasha Gange | |
| 2010 | Bombat Car | |
| 2011 | Olave Mandara | |
| 2012 | Super Shastri | |
| 2016 | Bheeshma |
| Year | Film title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sreeman Brahmachari | |
| Jagannatham and Sons | ||
| 1994 | Bhale Pellam | |
| 1997 | Master | |
| 1998 | Auto Driver | |
| Tholi Prema | Dubbed in Tamil asAnandha Mazhai | |
| Greeku Veerudu | ||
| Love Story 1999 | ||
| 2000 | Bagunnara | Reused one song fromNinaivirukkum Varai (1999) |
| 2002 | Kalusukovalani | Composed only one song |
| 2003 | Naaga | Reused three songs fromKushi |
| 2004 | Naalo | |
| 2005 | Naayudamma | |
| 2007 | Vijayadasami | Remake ofSivakasi Background score only, reused from said film |
| 2010 | Cara Majaka |
| Year | Film title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Prince | |
| King Soloman | ||
| 2002 | Phantom |
| Year | Film title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Chachi 420 | Hindi film; BGM only Remake ofAvvai Shanmugi |
| Year | Film title | Song(s) | Composer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Vaanmathi | "Pillayarpatti Hero" | Himself | |
| Kadhal Kottai | "Kavalaipadathe Sagothara" | Himself | ||
| 1997 | Porkkaalam | "Oonam oonam" | himself | |
| 1998 | Kaadhal Mannan | "Marimuthu Marimuthu" | Bharathwaj | |
| Kaadhale Nimmadhi | "Vidha Vidhama" | Himself | ||
| Ninaithen Vandhai | "Manisha Manisha" | Himself | ||
| Priyamudan | "White Lagaan" | Himself | ||
| Natpukkaga | "Meesakara Nanba" | himself | ||
| Kannedhirey Thondrinal | "Salomiya" | Himself | ||
| 2001 | Velu Vadivel | "Looty" | Himself | |
| 2004 | Adithadi | "Thagadu" | Himself | |
| 2009 | Modhi Vilayadu | "Modhi Vilayadu" | Hariharan-Leslie Lewis | |
| Thee | "Valliyamma" | Srikanth Deva | ||
| 2014 | Maan Karate | "Open The Tasmac" | Anirudh | |
| 2015 | Vandha Mala | "Aana Aavanna" "Aana Aavanna" (Remix) | Sam D Raj | |
| Sakalakala Vallavan | "Bulb Vaangitten" | S. Thaman | ||
| 2016 | Anjala | "Tea Podu" | Gopi Sunder | |
| Natpathigaram 79 | "sollu sollu chellamma" | Deepak Nilambur | ||
| Theri | "Jithu Jilladi" | G. V. Prakash | ||
| Enakku Veru Engum Kilaigal Kidayathu | "Kodambakkam Maru Peru" | S. N. Arunagiri | ||
| 2017 | Vilayattu Aarambam | "Adhiri Pudhiri" | Srikanth Deva | |
| 2018 | Annanukku Jai | "Thaarumaaraa Manasu" | Arrol Corelli | |
| Jarugandi | "Aadupuli Aattam" | Bobo Shashi | ||
| 2020 | Mookuthi Amman | "Saami Kulasami" | Girishh | |
| 2021 | Karnan | "Manjanathi Puranam" | Santhosh Narayanan | |
| Take Diversion | "Mammaro" | Jose Franklin | ||
| 2022 | Anbarivu | "Anbae Arivu" | Hiphop Tamizha | |
| Takku Mukku Tikku Thalam | "Takku Mukku" | Dharan Kumar | ||
| Hostel | "Hostel Gaana" | Bobo Shashi | ||
| 2023 | Good Night | "PalaPattra" | Sean Roldan | |
| Maamannan | "Nenjame Nenjame - Reprise(Film Version)" | A. R. Rahman | ||
| Venba | "Chellakutty" | Alpha Something | Video game soundtrack | |
| 2024 | Lal Salaam | "Anbalane" | A. R. Rahman | |
| Captain Miller | "Koranaaru" | G. V. Prakash Kumar | ||
| Boat | "Thakida Thadhimi" | M. Ghibran |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Summa Irunga Machan | Himself | Special appearance in the song "Chandhiranum" |
| 1998 | Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen | Special appearance | |
| 1999 | Chinna Raja | ||
| 2003 | Vani Mahal | ||
| 2004 | Adi Thadi | Special appearance in the song "Thagadu" | |
| 2005 | Englishkaran | Special appearance | |
| 2009 | Modhi Vilayadu | Special appearance in the song "Modhi Vilayadu" | |
| 2009 | Suriyan Satta Kalloori | Special appearance in the song "Kadhal Panna" |
| Year | Name of Television Show | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Super Singer Season 10 | Guest | Star Vijay |
Some of Deva’s songs have been noted for their resemblance to popular Indian and international songs. Music critics and listeners have observed similarities leading to discussions about possible musical influence with no proper credit to the original creators.
| International | |
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| Artists | |
