Deva (composer)
Devanesan Chokkalingam, popularly known as Deva, is an Indian film composer and singer who predominantly works in Tamil Cinema. He has composed songs and provided background music for Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films in a career spanning about 20 years. Many know his gaana songs, written mostly using Madras Tamil. He is known as the "Father of Gaana Genre" in the Tamil film industry.[2][3] He has composed music for more than 400 films.[4]
Deva | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Devanesan Chokkalingam |
| Born | 20 November 1950[1] |
| Origin | Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation(s) | Film composer, music director |
| Instruments | Vocals (playback singing), guitar, keyboard/harmonium/piano |
| Years active | 1988–present |
He debuted as a film music director in the film Manasukkeththa Maharaasa in 1989.
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 the television field. 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][5]
So far, he has composed music for more than 400 films, which include Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. He is also famous for his compositions for religious films. He was widely acclaimed for his scores for the Rajinikanth starrer Basha. His other famous compositions include Annamalai and Baasha, both starring the superstar Rajinikanth.
In 2014, Anirudh Ravichander chose Deva to sing a gaana song in his album Maan Karate and labelled Deva as the "father of the Gaana genre".[6]
Honours
Veteran music director M. S. Viswanathan conferred the title Thenisai Thendral upon Deva for his contributions.
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 Baasha, 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.[7][8]
Filmography
Tamil films
Kannada films
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Raja | |
| Amrutha Varshini | Winner: 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 | Aakasha 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 | ||
| 2000 | Bagunnara | |
| 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
Discography
| Year | Film Title | Song(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Vaanmathi | "Pillayarpatti Hero" | |
| 1996 | Kadhal Kottai | "Kavalaipadathe Sagothara" | |
| 1998 | Kaadhal Mannan | "Marimuthu Marimuthu" | |
| 1998 | Kaadhale Nimmadhi | "Vidha Vidhama" | |
| 1998 | Ninaithen Vandhai | "Manisha Manisha" | |
| 1998 | Priyamudan | "White Lagaan" | |
| 1998 | Kannethire Thondrinaal | "Salomiya" | |
| 2004 | Adithadi | "Thagadu" | |
| 2009 | Modhi Vilayadu | "Modhi Vilayadu" | |
| 2014 | Maan Karate | "Open The Tasmac" | |
| 2015 | Vandha Mala | "Aana Aavanna" "Aana Aavanna" (Remix) | |
| 2016 | Anjala | "Tea Podu" | |
| 2016 | Theri | "Jithu Jilladi" | |
| 2016 | Enakku Veru Engum Gilaigai Kidaiyathu | "Kodambakkam Maru Peru" | |
| 2018 | Annanukku Jai | "Thaarumaaraa Manasu" |
Onscreen appearances
| Year | Film Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen | as himself |
| 1999 | Chinna Raja | 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". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 11 January 2001. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- "Tamil cinema Data Base of actors,actress,directors". 29 October 2006. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006.
- "Find Tamil Actor Deva Filmography, Movies, Pictures and Videos - Jointscene.com". 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011.
- "Deva tamil music director". behindwoods.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- "The Hindu : Cinema Plus / Cinema : my first break". hindu.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- "Maan Karate Songs Review – OnlyKollywood". onlykollywood.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- "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.
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