Tamil composer Deva laid to rest with state honours in Tamil Nadu

Hollywood Reporter India

Hollywood Reporter India · Image source

Source published Oct 19, 2026 · Toronto

What To Know

Veteran Tamil music composer and singer Deva, popularly known as 'Thenisai Thendral', was laid to rest with state honours at his farm in Pazhaya Mangadu village, Sakkaramallur, Arcot taluk, Ranipet district, on Sunday, October 18, 2026 — a day after he died of a heart attack in Chennai at 75, Hollywood Reporter India reports.

As part of the state honours, personnel from the Ranipet Armed Reserve Police fired 72 rounds into the air, per the report. The composer's mortal remains were brought from Chennai to his farm around 3 pm and carried to the burial site in a procession accompanied by traditional percussion music, with residents of his native village putting up tribute banners along the route. Thousands of admirers, relatives and film-industry colleagues gathered to pay their last respects; Cooperation Minister V. Gandhiraj, Ranipet Collector N. Priya Ravichandran, District Revenue Officer N. Saravanan and several MLAs attended.

The state government announced the honours following tributes from political leaders and film personalities in Chennai on Saturday. Superstar Rajinikanth visited Deva's Chennai residence, appearing visibly emotional as he paid his last respects and consoled the bereaved family, while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor C. Joseph Vijay also visited and noted Deva's contribution to popularising gaana music across more than 400 films, the report says.

Background: Deva, born Devanesan Chokkalingam on November 20, 1950, rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s with landmark soundtracks including Annamalai, Baashha, Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Kushi and Vaalee, earning the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani Award and the State Film Award for Best Music Director for Aasai. His death on October 17, confirmed by his son, music director Srikanth Deva, prompted an outpouring of tributes from the film fraternity and Tamil Canadians — covered by Tamil Directory on October 18.