Tholi Prema Music Director Deva Passes Away At 75

Article by Kumar Published on: 11:42 am, 17 October 2026

Veteran Tamil music composer and singer Deva, popularly known as Thenisai Thendral, passed away in Chennai on Saturday at the age of 75. According to reports, he was admitted to Surya Hospital around 8:30 AM, where he died suddenly.

Deva was one of the prominent music directors in Tamil cinema and made a significant contribution to the industry with his distinctive tunes. His music career spanned more than three decades, and he composed songs for hundreds of films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

Deva composed music for several popular Telugu films and earned recognition among Telugu audiences. His notable Telugu albums include Chiranjeevi’s Master and Tholi Prema, starring Pawan Kalyan. The songs from these films remain memorable among Telugu music lovers.

Deva rose to fame during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He worked with several leading actors and filmmakers and delivered memorable albums for films like Annamalai, Baashha, Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Vaalee and Kushi.

He was widely recognised for bringing Chennai’s popular gaana music into mainstream cinema. Apart from energetic folk numbers, Deva also composed romantic melodies and devotional songs, showcasing his versatility as a music composer.

For his contribution to music, Deva received several honours, including the Tamil Nadu government’s Kalaimamani award and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director for Aasai. His son Srikanth Deva also established himself as a music composer. Further details about his final rites are awaited.