Deva (composer)
Devanesan Chokkalingam, also known as Deva, is a south Indian film composer and singer who predominantly works in Tamil Cinema. He has composed songs and provided background music for Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam films in a career spanning about 36 years. He has composed music for more than 400 films.[2]
Deva | |
|---|---|
 Devanesan Chokkalingam at KJ Yesudas 50 Concert Press Meet | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Devanesan Chokkalingam |
| Born | 20 November 1950[1] |
| Origin | Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation(s) | Film composer, music director |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals (playback singing), guitar, keyboard/harmonium/piano |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Personal life
Deva was born to M. C. Chokkalingam and M. C. Krishnaveni. Even in his childhood, Deva was attracted to the world of music. Teaming up with Chandra Bose, he staged many musical programmes. He started learning classical music under Dhanraj and has completed a course in Western music at Trinity College of Music in London. His son Srikanth Deva is also a music director, as are his brothers, who have formed the duo Sabesh–Murali. His nephew Jai is an actor.
Career
Before coming to cinema, Deva worked for some time in Doordarshan Podhigai channel and composed songs for the show Vayalum Vaazhvum.[3] In those days, Deva's brothers were working in the musical troupes of Illayaraja and other music directors as instrumentalists. His first film, Manasukketha Maharasa, was released in 1989. He was then called to work on the movie Vaigasi Poranthachu. After the release of Vaikaasi Poranthaachu, his name became known throughout the Tamil community.[1]
The great music composer M. 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 starrer Annamalai (1992) and Baashha (1995).
In 1996, Deva composed tunes for 36 movies. His scores played a big role in the emergence of actors Ajith and Vijay, with hits such as Aasai (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.[4]
In 2014, Anirudh Ravichander chose Deva to sing a gaana song in his album Maan Karate.[5]
In 2023, Deva teamed with lyricist Alpha Something and game developer Visai Games to sing a song for the video game Venba, which draws heavily from themes of Tamil culture.[6][7][8]
Awards
In 1990, he received his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director. He received the Tamil Nadu Government's Kalaimamani Award in the year 1992. In 1995, the film Aasai brought him another state film award. For Baashha, he got the Tamil Nadu Arts and Cultural Academy Award. He received an award by Guinness world records for Sivappu Mazhai as the world fastest movie from script to screening. He has also been honoured by awards from popular journals like Dinakaran, Cinema Express and Screen. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Kannada film Amrutha Varshini.[9][10]
Filmography
Tamil films
Kannada films
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Raja | |
| Amrutha Varshini | Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada | |
| 2000 | Independence Day | |
| Vande Matharam | ||
| Galate Aliyandru | ||
| 2001 | Kotigobba | |
| 2002 | Naanu Naane | |
| Nata | ||
| Sainika | ||
| Simhadriya Simha | ||
| 2003 | Vijayadashami | |
| Raja Narasimha | ||
| 2004 | Kadamba | |
| 2005 | Vishnu Sena | |
| 2008 | Akasha Gange | |
| 2010 | Bombat Car | |
| 2011 | Olave Mandara | |
| 2012 | Super Shastri | |
| 2016 | Bheeshma | |
Telugu films
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Bhale Pellam | |
| 1997 | Master | |
| 1998 | Auto Driver | |
| Tholi Prema | ||
| Love Story 1999 | ||
| 2000 | Bagunnara | Reused one song from Ninaivirukkum Varai (1999) |
| 2003 | Naaga | |
| 2005 | Naayudamma | |
| 2010 | Cara Majaka | |
Malayalam films
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Prince | |
| King Soloman | ||
| 2002 | Phantom | |
Television
- 2007 Vaira Nenjam
- 2007 Bharathi
- 2008 Thangamana Purushan
- 2009 Vilakku Vacha Nerathula
- 2013 Mahabharatham
Singer
| Year | Film Title | Song(s) | Composer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Vaanmathi | "Pillayarpatti Hero" | Himself | |
| 1996 | Kadhal Kottai | "Kavalaipadathe Sagothara" | Himself | |
| 1997 | Porkkaalam | "Oonam oonam" | himself | |
| 1998 | Kaadhal Mannan | "Marimuthu Marimuthu" | Bharathwaj | |
| 1998 | Kaadhale Nimmadhi | "Vidha Vidhama" | Himself | |
| 1998 | Ninaithen Vandhai | "Manisha Manisha" | Himself | |
| 1998 | Priyamudan | "White Lagaan" | Himself | |
| 1998 | Natpukkaga | "Meesakara Nanba" | himself | |
| 1998 | Kannedhirey Thondrinal | "Salomiya" | Himself | |
| 2004 | Adithadi | "Thagadu" | Himself | |
| 2009 | Modhi Vilayadu | "Modhi Vilayadu" | Colonial Cousins | |
| 2014 | Maan Karate | "Open The Tasmac" | Anirudh | |
| 2015 | Vandha Mala | "Aana Aavanna" "Aana Aavanna" (Remix) | Sam D Raj | |
| 2015 | Sakalakala Vallavan | "Bulb Vaangitten" | S. Thaman | |
| 2016 | Anjala | "Tea Podu" | Gopi Sunder | |
| 2016 | Theri | "Jithu Jilladi" | G. V. Prakash | |
| 2016 | 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 | |
| 2018 | Jarugandi | "Aadupuli Aattam" | Bobo Shashi | |
| 2020 | Mookuthi Amman | "Saami Kulasami" | Girishh | |
| 2021 | Karnan | "Manjanathi Puranam" | Santhosh Narayanan | |
| 2021 | Take Diversion | "Mammaro" | Jose Franklin | |
| 2022 | Anbarivu | "Anbae Arivu" | Hiphop Tamizha | |
| 2022 | Takku Mukku Tikku Thalam | "Takku Mukku" | Dharan Kumar | |
| 2022 | Hostel | "Hostel Gaana" | Bobo Shashi | |
| 2023 | Good Night | "Paala Patra" | Sean Roldan | |
| 2023 | Maamannan | "Nenjame Nenjame - Reprise(Film Version)" | A. R. Rahman | |
| 2023 | Venba | "Chellakutty" | Alpha Something | Video game soundtrack |
Onscreen appearances
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Summa Irunga Machan | himself in song "Chandhiranum" |
| 1998 | Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen | as himself |
| 1999 | Chinna Raja | as himself |
| 2003 | Vani Mahal | as himself |
| 2004 | Adi Thadi | himself in song "Thagadu" |
| 2005 | Englishkaran | as himself |
| 2009 | Modhi Vilayadu | himself in song "Modhi Vilayadu" |
Reused tunes
- Kotigobba (2001) from Baashha (1995) (3 songs added with one of them being reused version of "Athanda Ithanda" from Arunachalam (1997))
- Simhadriya Simha from Kattabomman (1 song "Priya Priya" has been reused; while "Kalladre Naanu" was reused as "Poove Mudhal Poove" in Kadhal Kirukkan with different vocals and instrumentations; "Malnad Adike" was reused from "Kottapaakum" in Nattamai).
- Naaga from Kushi (3 songs "Megam Karukuthu", "Macarina" and "Oru Ponnu" has been reused).
- Nata (2002) from Priyamudhan (1997) (3 songs "Bharathikku", "Pooja Vaa", and "Mowriya" have been reused).
References
- DINAKARAN dinakaran.com. "dinakaran". Archived from the original on 11 January 2001. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- "Deva tamil music director". behindwoods.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ஒளரங்கசீப் (21 January 1996). "சினிமா உலகம் பணத்தை மதிக்கிறது!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 6–8. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- "How Tamil composer Deva rolled out the hits: 'A film song should immediately register with people'". 24 June 2018.
- "Deva sings for Anirudh !". The Times of India. 14 April 2014.
- வெண்பா/Venba [@venbaGame] (7 February 2023). "Humbled, grateful, and ecstatic to announce that Thenisai Thendral Deva (@ungaldevaoffl) has sung a song for us in Venba!!! 🙌 Special thanks to @alpha_something who has written and composed this absolute banger!! Can't believeeeee we got to do this!!! 🥹 🥹". via Twitter. Retrieved on 30 July 2023.
- Alpha Something [@alphasomething] (24 July 2023). "செல்லக்குட்டி / Chellakutty from Venba Original Soundtrack. The Venba team is extremely fortunate to have @ungaldevaoffl sing for our game, and no doubt he's made it into a complete banger! 💥💜". via Instagram. Retrieved on 30 July 2023.
- Venba | A game about cooking, family and more. Retrieved on 30 July 2023.
- "45th Annual Filmfare Best Kannada Music Director : Santosh : Free Dow…". archive.is. 5 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017.
- "deva_won_filmfare__best_kannada_music_director : santosh : Free Downl…". archive.is. 5 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017.
- "Sollie Adippaen has youthful music".