Deva's musical legacy honored by Vice President

The Vice President of India paid tribute to the late music director Deva on Saturday, acknowledging his role in popularising the ‘gaana’ style of songs in Tamil cinema. Deva began his film career in 1986 with the movie Matukaramanaru and quickly became a household name.

Deva’s work spanned Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films, exceeding 400 titles. He was also known for singing several of his own compositions, adding a distinct personal touch to his music.

In his condolence note, the Vice President expressed his deepest sympathies to Deva’s family, friends and the broader artistic community, noting the great void left in the industry.

Deva, who entered the industry as the 28th music director amidst the dominance of Ilaiyaraaja and later A.R. Rahman, sought to carve a unique identity, leading to the rise of the ‘gaana’ genre that defined his legacy.