The South Indian film industry lost one of its most iconic musical stalwarts on October 17, 2026, when legendary composer and singer Deva passed away due to a heart attack in Chennai at the age of 75. His sudden health deterioration in the morning led to immediate hospitalization, where doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival. In recognition of his monumental contributions to cinema, the Tamil Nadu government conducted his final rites with full state honors, drawing major film icons including superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan to pay their final respects.
In an unimaginable tragedy for the family, Deva's passing was followed just three days later, on October 20, 2026, by the death of his nephew and well-known Tamil comedian Karthik Sabesh at the age of 37 due to illness. This back-to-back loss delivered a profound double blow to the grieving family.
Spanning nearly four decades, Deva’s remarkable career defined the sound of South Indian cinema, where he composed blockbuster music for over 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Revered as the "Godfather of Gaana Music" and "Thenisai Thendral," he is primarily credited with bringing Chennai’s traditional folk 'gaana' genre into mainstream cinema and turning it into a massive commercial success.
His compositions played a crucial role in shaping the cinematic rise of superstar Rajinikanth, delivering cult classic tracks like "Naan Autokaran" and "Vandhaanda Paalikaataran" for blockbusters such as Baashha, Annamalai, and Arunachalam. His timeless music also powered Thalapathy Vijay's smash hit Kushi. For his enduring impact on the music industry, Deva was honored with the Tamil Nadu government’s prestigious Kalaimamani Award.