Deva (composer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deva
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Deva at KJ Yesudas 50 Concert Press Meet
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Devanesan Chokkalingam |
| Born | 20 November 1950 |
| Origin | Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation(s) | Film composer, music director |
| Instruments | Vocals (playback singing), guitar, keyboard/harmonium/piano |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Devanesan Chokkalingam, known to many as Deva, is a famous film composer and singer from South India. He mostly works in the Tamil Cinema industry. Over his 36-year career, he has created songs and background music for more than 400 films. These movies are in different languages like Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam.
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About Deva's Life
Deva was born on November 20, 1950. His parents were M. C. Chokkalingam and M. C. Krishnaveni. Even when he was a child, Deva loved music. He teamed up with another composer, Chandra Bose, and they put on many musical shows.
Deva learned classical music from JB Krishna. He also studied with Dhanraj and completed a course in Western music at Trinity College of Music in London. Music runs in his family! His son, Srikanth Deva, is also a music director. His brothers, who are known as Sabesh–Murali, also compose music. His nephew, Jai, is an actor.
Deva's Music Journey
Before working in movies, Deva composed songs for a TV show called Vayalum Vaazhvum on Doordarshan Podhigai channel. His brothers were musicians who played for other famous music directors like Illayaraja.
Deva's first movie as a composer was Manasukketha Maharasa, released in 1989. After that, he worked on the movie Vaigasi Poranthachu. This film helped him become well-known in the Tamil community.
A great music composer named M. S. Viswanathan even called him “thenisai thendral,” which means “the breeze of sweet music.” Deva has composed music for over 400 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. He is also famous for his music in religious films. He received a lot of praise for his music in the Rajinikanth movies Annamalai (1992) and Baashha (1995).
In 1996, Deva composed music for an amazing 36 movies! His songs helped actors like Ajith and Vijay become big stars. Some of his hit movies with them include Aasai (1995), Kadhal Kottai (1996), Nerrukku Ner (1997), Vaalee (1999), and Kushi (2000).
In 2014, another popular music director, Anirudh Ravichander, asked Deva to sing a special "gaana" song for his album Maan Karate. More recently, in 2023, Deva sang a song for the video game Venba. This game is all about Tamil culture.
Deva's Awards and Recognitions
Deva has won many awards for his music.
- In 1990, he won his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director.
- He received the Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu Government in 1992.
- The film Aasai earned him another state film award in 1995.
- For Baashha, he received the Tamil Nadu Arts and Cultural Academy Award.
- He even got an award from Guinness World Records for Sivappu Mazhai. This movie was made super fast, from script to screening!
- He has also been honored by popular magazines like Dinakaran, Cinema Express, and Screen.
- He won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Kannada for the film Amrutha Varshini.
Deva's Film Music (Discography)
Deva has composed music for hundreds of films. Here are some of his notable works in different languages.
Tamil Films
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Maattukara Mannaru | First film as a composer |
| 1989 | Manasukketha Maharasa | |
| 1990 | Vaigasi Poranthachu | Winner Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director |
| Namma Ooru Poovatha | ||
| Mannukketha Maindhan | Not Released | |
| 1991 | Naadu Adhai Naadu | |
| Pudhu Manithan | ||
| Marikozhundhu | ||
| Aatha Un Koyilile | ||
| Mill Thozhilali | ||
| Vaidehi Kalyanam | ||
| Mangalyam Thanthunane | ||
| Vasanthakala Paravai | ||
| Kizhakku Karai | ||
| Oyilattam | ||
| Vaasalil Oru Vennila | ||
| En Pottukku Sonthakkaran | ||
| Vaidehi Vandhachu | ||
| Thoothu Po Chellakkiliye | ||
| Thambi Oorukku Pudhusa | ||
| Nadodi Kadhal | Not Released | |
| Neelakuyile Neelakuyile | Not Released | |
| 1992 | Brahmachari | |
| Ilavarasan | ||
| Periya Gounder Ponnu | ||
| Government Mappillai | ||
| Kasthuri Manjal | ||
| Thangarasu | 25th Film | |
| Therku Theru Machan | ||
| Tamil Ponnu | ||
| Oor Mariyadhai | ||
| Unakkaga Piranthen | ||
| Pokkiri Thambi | ||
| Pudhusa Padikkiren Paattu | ||
| Kizhakku Velathachu | ||
| Amma Vanthachu | ||
| Annamalai | ||
| Vasantha Malargal | ||
| Pattathu Raani | ||
| Suriyan | ||
| Kottai Vaasal | ||
| Pondatti Rajyam | ||
| Mouna Mozhi | ||
| Kizhakku Veedhi | ||
| Samundi | ||
| Natchathira Nayagan | ||
| Solaiyamma | ||
| Sooriya Namaskaram | Not Released | |
| 1993 | Pudhu Piravi | |
| Madurai Meenakshi | ||
| Suriyan Chandiran | ||
| Madhumathi | ||
| Vedan | 50th Film | |
| Idhaya Nayagan | ||
| Munarivippu | ||
| Band Master | ||
| Nallathe Nadakkum | ||
| Thanga Pappa | ||
| Pass Mark | ||
| Maravan | ||
| Moondravadhu Kann | ||
| Karuppu Vellai | ||
| Akkarai Cheemayile | ||
| Rajadurai | ||
| Kattabomman | ||
| Muthupandi | ||
| Purusha Lakshanam | ||
| Rojavai Killathe | ||
| Kizhakke Varum Paattu | ||
| Senthoorapandi | ||
| Shenbagam | ||
| Nee Oru Thanipiravi | Not Released | |
| 1994 | Veettai Paaru Naattai Paaru | |
| Subramaniya Swamy | ||
| Chinna Muthu | ||
| Aranmanai Kaavalan | ||
| En Rajangam | ||
| Indhu | 75th Film | |
| Vaa Magale Vaa | ||
| Namma Annachi | ||
| Pathavi Pramanam | ||
| Sevatha Ponnu | ||
| Manasu Rendum Pudhusu | ||
| Maindhan | ||
| Rasigan | ||
| Watchman Vadivel | ||
| Thamarai | ||
| Sarigamapadani | ||
| En Aasai Machan | ||
| Killadi Mappillai | ||
| Raja Pandi | ||
| Thai Maaman | ||
| Pattukottai Periyappa | ||
| Ilaignar Ani | ||
| Jallikattu Kaalai | ||
| Veera Padhakkam | ||
| Nila | ||
| Magudikkaran | ||
| Pandiyanin Rajyathil | ||
| Thaai Manasu | ||
| Manja Virattu | ||
| Kizhakku Pakkam Kathiru | Not Released | |
| Maappillai Thozhan | Not Released | |
| 1995 | Karuppu Nila | |
| Kattumarakaaran | Songs by Ilaiyaraja. Background by Deva | |
| Baashha | ||
| Veluchami | 100th Film | |
| Gangai Karai Paattu | ||
| Deva | ||
| Chinna Mani | ||
| En Pondatti Nallava | ||
| Thirumoorthy | ||
| Chellakannu | ||
| Sandhaikku Vandha Kili | ||
| Rani Maharani | ||
| Thamizhachi | ||
| Anbu Magan | ||
| Marumagan | ||
| Pullakuttikaran | ||
| Gandhi Pirantha Mann | ||
| Chakravarthy | ||
| Vishnu | ||
| Nadodi Mannan | ||
| Aasai | Winner Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director | |
| Sindhu Bath | ||
| Thaikulame Thaikulame | ||
| Aakaya Pookal | ||
| Ilavarasi | ||
| Seethanam | ||
| Varraar Sandiyar | 125th Film | |
| Mannai Thottu Kumbidanum | ||
| Dear Son Maruthu | ||
| Karutha Machan | Not Released |
Deva has composed music for many more Tamil films, reaching over 400 movies in total.
Kannada Films
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Raja | |
| Amrutha Varshini | Won Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada | |
| 2000 | Independence Day | |
| Vande Matharam | ||
| Galate Aliyandru | ||
| Jithendra |
Deva has also composed for many other Kannada films.
Telugu Films
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sreeman Brahmachari | |
| Jagannatham and Sons | ||
| 1994 | Bhale Pellam | |
| 1997 | Master |
And many more Telugu films.
Malayalam Films
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Prince | |
| King Soloman |
Deva has also composed for other Malayalam films.
Deva's TV Work
Deva has also composed music for television shows:
- 2007 Vaira Nenjam
- 2007 Bharathi
- 2008 Thangamana Purushan
- 2009 Vilakku Vacha Nerathula
- 2013 Mahabharatham
Deva as a Singer
Besides composing, Deva is also a talented playback singer. He has sung many songs for films, often for his own compositions, but also for other music directors.
| 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 | ||
| 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 | "Paala Patra" | 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 |
Deva's Onscreen Appearances
Deva has also appeared in a few films and TV shows, often playing himself or in a song sequence.
Films
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Summa Irunga Machan | as himself in the song "Chandhiranum" |
| 1998 | Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen | as himself |
| 1999 | Chinna Raja | as himself |
| 2003 | Vani Mahal | as himself |
| 2004 | Adi Thadi | as himself in the song "Thagadu" |
| 2005 | Englishkaran | as himself |
| 2009 | Modhi Vilayadu | as himself in the song "Modhi Vilayadu" |
| 2009 | Suriyan Satta Kalloori | as himself in the song "Kadhal Panna" |
Television
| Year | Name of Television Show | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Super Singer Season 10 | Guest | Star Vijay |
