DEVA Music Director - One of the Tamil Popular Music Composers in Tamil Nadu,Also Known for Singing Gana Songs and first introduced Tamil Gana Songs into Tamil films - Portrait art by Artist Anikartick,Chennai

Devanesan Chokkalingam is an Indian film composer and singer. He has composed songs and provided background music for Tamil, Telugu, Malayalamand Kannada films in a career spanning about 20 years. Many know his gaanasongs, written mostly using Madras Tamil. He is known as the "Father of Gaana Genre" in the Tamil film industry.

Deva has composed music for many films within a very short period. He debuted as a film music director in the film Manasukkeththa Maharaasa in 1989. In the intervening years he has composed music for a total of more than 400 films.[2]Personal life[edit]

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 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[edit]

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. But Deva took special interests for self-improvement in his profession and at the same time he was looking for chances to enter movies. But the benefits of those efforts did not bear fruit easily. Only after much hardship he managed to enter the field with the help of some friends and his four brothers. Just after his entry, the production work of those films, for which negotiations were on for fixing Deva as the music director, could not get completed and some other films with his music could not be released at all.

Deva continued his search for an opening, which finally began yielding results in 1989. His first film, Manasukketha Maharasa, was released in 1989. He was then called to work on the movie Vaigasi Poranthachu. This film was a huge hit and Deva was praised for his work. After the release of Vaikaasi Poranthaachu, his name became known throughout the Tamil community.[1][3]

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 Rajinikanth starrer Basha. His other famous compositions include Annamalai and Baasha, both starring Super Star Rajnikanth.

Behind Deva's great success, there are his brothers also, which fact he won't deny too! He says: 'If I stand at this height as a music director, the supportive reason behind this is my brothers. They too work hard like me. That's why it was possible for me to accomplish the task of composing music for such huge number of films! So to say, all my 4 brothers have their own share in my present success!'

As a brother Deva showers upon them (brothers) his heart-felt felicitations and his brothers, on their part, continue to take greater pains professionally, to add to the well-meaning achievements of Deva in the future also! This quality of Deva has enhanced his image among the top brass of the cineworld! Hence, veteran music director M.S.Viswanathan has conferred upon Deva the most suitably coined title, "Thenisai Thentral". As if doing full justification to this title, Deva's tunes and musical scores never fail to pour sweet honey in the form of melodious songs into our 'yearning' ears! Among the films whose music was composed by Deva, 7 became silver jubilee hits! 100 days films were 34.

In Kannada, he composed music for many blockbuster films. All the songs in the 1997 super hit film Amrutha Varshinistarring South Actors Ramesh Aravind, Suhasini Maniratnam, Sharath Babu and others is still remembered by the audience. The songs in the film are considered as the evergreen songs in the history of Kannada Cinema and they are the most sung songs in the reality shows even today. Deva has composed songs for many block buster hit films starring South Super StarDr. Vishnuvardhan, a star of 220 movies in five different languages. The films Kotigobba, Simhadriya Simha, Raja Narasimha, Kadamba, Vishnu Sena were all the films in their combination. The songs Kaverige Kaalungura, Sahasa Simha, Annayya Thammayya, Priya Priya, Kalladare Naanu, Barthanavva Bhoopa, Malnad Adike, Pancha Koti Kannadigare, Yamini Yaaramma, Sangathiye, History Gotha written by Kannada Star Upendra and all the songs above sung by Indian play back singer Dr.S. P. Balasubrahmanyam are super hit songs and still remain as the favourites of the Kannada audience.

He recently made a special appearance in the film Modhi Vilayadu. On 31 July 2011, Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha has made him as the head of the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram. 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".[4]

Honours[edit]

Veteran music director M. S. Viswanathan conferred the title Thenisai Thendral upon Deva for his contributions.

Awards[edit]

In 1990, he received his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director. He received the Tamil Nadu Government'sKalaimamani 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. Award by Guinness world records for Sivappu Mazhai world fastest movie from script to screening. He has also been honoured by awards from popular journals like Dinakaran, Cinema Express andScreen.

Criticism[edit]

One of the major criticisms against Deva is plagiarism.[5] He is known for lifting snippets and sometimes even the full song from famous old and recent English pop songs and using them as his own. Some of the alleged lifts include famous boy band Blue, the song "Alane" by Wes, Celine dion, Pakistani band Junoon, English bands Sasha, Linkin Park, The Wonders, Michael Jackson,Dr.Alban, Backstreet Boys, etc.

YearFilm TitleNotes

1989Manasukketha MaharasaDebut film as a composer

Kaaval Poonaigal

1990Vaigasi PoranthachuWinner Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director

Mannukketha Maindhan

Namma Ooru Poovatha

1991Pudhu Manithan

Vasanthakala Paravai

Kizhakku karai

Nadodi Kadhal

Gangaikarai Paattu

Mangalyam Thanthunane

1992Amma Vanthaachu

Annamalai

Ilavarasan

Oor Mariyadhai

Madhumathi

Government Mappillai

Brahmachari

Pondatti Rajyam

Samundi

Suriyan

Therku Theru Machan

Unakkaga Piranthen

Solaiyamma

Pattathu Raani

1993Kattabomman

Sendhoorapandi

Rojavai Killathe

Moondravadhu Kann

Vedan

1994En Aasai Machan

Rasigan

Indhu

Namma Annachi

Jallikattu Kaalai

Pathavi Pramanam

Maindhan

Manasu Rendum Pudhusu

1995AasaiWinner Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director

Nominated : Filmfare Award for Best Music Director

BaashaNominated : Filmfare Award for Best Music Director

Deva

Seethanam

Gandhi Pirantha Mann

Nadodi Mannan

Pongalo Pongal

Thirumoorthi

Marumagan

Maaman Magal

Thaikulame Thaikulame

Pullakuttikaaran

1996Avvai Shanmugi

Gokulathil Seethai

Senathipathi

Gopala Gopala

Kadhal KottaiNominated : Filmfare Award for Best Music Director

Kalloori Vaasal

Maanbumigu Maanavan

Panchalankurichi

Kalki

Vaanmathi

Kaalam Maari Pochu

1997Aahaa

Abhimanyu

Arunachalam

Bharathi Kannamma

Saathisanam

Thadayam

Iniyavale

Dharma Chakkaram

Ettupatti Rasa

Vaaimaye Vellum

Sishya

Kadhal Palli

Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga

Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen

Kalyana Vaibhogam

Mappillai Gounder

Nerukku NerNominated : Filmfare Award for Best Music Director

Nalla Manasukkaran

Nesam

Once More

Pagaivan

Pathini

Periya Thambi

Porkkaalam

Rettai Jadai Vayasu

Periya Manushan

Thedinen Vandhadhu

1998En Uyir Nee Thaane

Iniyavale

Kaadhale Nimmadhi

Kannedhirey Thondrinal

Urimai Por

Santhosham

Natpukkaga

Ponvizha

Ninaithen Vandhai

Priyamudan

Sandhippoma

Sundara Pandian

1999Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham

Anantha Poongathe

Chinna Raja

Oruvan

Ooty

Hello

Kanave Kalaiyadhe

Kannodu Kanbathellam

Nenjinile

Anbulla Kadhalukku

Minsara Kanna

Rojavanam

Unnaithedi

Unnaruge Naan Irundhal

Guru Paarvai

VaaliNominated : Filmfare Award for Best Music Director

2000Appu

Vetri Kodi Kattu

Eazhaiyin Sirippil

KushiWinner Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director

Nominated : Filmfare Award for Best Music Director

MugavareeNominated : Filmfare Award for Best Music Director

Vallarasu

Sandhitha Velai

Unnai Kann Theduthey

Seenu

Thai Porandachu

Manu Needhi

2001Chocolate

Citizen

Engalukkum Kaalam Varum

Kannukku Kannaga

Maayan

Sri Raja Rajeswari

Lovely

Veettoda Mappillai

Love Marriage

Lootie

Virumbugiren

Kadal Meengal

Ulagai Vilai Pesava

2002Bagavathi

Panchathanthiram

Red

Pammal K. Sambandam

Samasthanam

Vivaramana Aalu

Maaran

2003Chokka Thangam

Dum

Soori

Kadhal Kirukkan

Ramachandra

Indru

Military

2004Devathayai Kanden

Adi Thadi

Jore

Ramakrishna

Kavithai

Engal Anna

Jaisurya

Gajendra

Maha Nadigan

2005Englishkaran

Nanbanin Kadhali

Girivalam

Selvam

Super Da

2007Thirumagan

Viyabari

Solli Adippen

Manikanda

Adavadi

Pasupathi C/O Rasakkapalayam

Cheena Thaana 001

2008Kodaikanal

2009Aarumugam

Mattuthavani

2010Sivappu Mazhai

Pen Singam

Kutti Pisasu

2012Kondaan Koduthaan

2014Dummy Tapassu

Kannada films[edit]

1997 – Raja

1997 – Amrutha Varshini

2000 – Independence Day, Vande Mataram, Galate Aliyandru

2001 – Kotigobba

2002 – Naanu Naane, Nata, , Sainika, Simhadriya Simha

2003 – Vijayadashami, Raja Narasimha

2004 – Kadamba

2005 – Vishnu Sena

2006 – Aakasha Gange

2010 – Bombat Car

2011 – Olave Mandara

2012 – Super Shastri

Telugu films[edit]

1994 – Bhale Pellam

1997 – Master

1998 – Auto Driver

1998 – Tholi Prema

2002 – Naaga

2010 – Cara Majaka

Malayalam films[edit]

1996 – The Prince

1996 – King Solomon

2002 – Phantom

Television[edit]

Mahabharatham

Vaira Nenjam

Done