If you ask someone what comes to mind when they hear the name Deva, chances are the answer will be gaana. There’s no doubt that the composer brought the sounds of Chennai’s streets into mainstream Tamil cinema.
Whether it is the infectious energy of “Kaathadikudhu Kaathadikudhu,” the casual, everyday charm of “Vidhavidhamma Soap-u, Seepu, Kannadi,” the sheer absurdity of “White-u Lagaan,” the reassuring “Kavalai Padathe Sagothara,” the playful “Vellerikka Pinju Vellerikka,” or the cheeky “Kothal Savadi Lady, Koyambedu Vadi,” Deva knew exactly how to turn the simplest phrases into unforgettable musical experiences. These were songs that didn’t need elaborate lyrics or complicated arrangements to win people over. Their raw energy, colloquial humour and infectious rhythms made them instant crowd-pleasers.
But to remember Deva only for his gaana hits is to miss the other side of the composer — the man behind the romantic melodies, pop-inspired sounds and underrated gems that deserve just as much love.
Side A – Tracks That Inspire
Deva gave us songs that stirred something deeper — tracks that celebrated ambition, perseverance and the determination to rise above life’s challenges.
Kannaikasakkum Sooriyano Red – the piano at the start, the beats, SPB singing in high pitch gave all the adrenaline that’s needed when you’re down. “Ulagathai Nesi, Oruvarayum Nambathe! Urangiya Pothum, Oru Kannai Moodathe” (Love the world, but don’t trust anyone. Even when you sleep, don’t close one eye). Powerful lyrics set to a powerful tune by one and one only Deva.
And then there’s Merke Vidhaitha Sooriyane from Citizen – yet another song that evokes hope, resilience and the belief that brighter days lie ahead. Favourite line – Kuttu patta Kuttu patta koottam, Kunintha kathai podhum, Porumai neelum bodhu
Puluvum puliyaagum. (Beaten down, oppressed or pushed around, enough of it. When patience is stretched too far, even a worm will turn into a tiger.).
Aandae Nootrande from Mugavaree is a reminder of how Deva could look beyond conventional melodies, experiment with contemporary sounds and translate the mood of an era into music. For listeners who grew up around the turn of the millennium, the song is a musical time capsule — capturing the optimism, energy and sense of possibility that accompanied the arrival of the year 2000.
“Vetri Nichayam” from Annamalai is another favourite that fills you with hope and gives you the mental strength to keep going, no matter how difficult life gets. “Ra Ra Ramaiya” from Baashha, on the other hand, feels like life itself distilled into a song.
Side B – The Underrated Side Of Deva
Deva could evoke an astonishing range of emotions through his music.
And this is where Deva deserves far more credit than he gets — for the beautiful melodies that often get overshadowed by his iconic gaana numbers. For every foot-tapping hit that made us dance, there was a melody that made us pause, reminisce and fall in love with his music all over again.
While the Ilayaraja-SPB combination is much celebrated, his association with Deva has given us some mesmerizing numbers. Oru Kaditham Ezhudhinen – This song from the movie Deva, composed by Deva is a gem and is impossible to even imagine someone else other than SPB singing it. This is a song that also made Vijay, a chocolate boy. Another underrated songs of SPB-Deva combo is Bharathikku Kannama. Pooja Vaa from the same movie also stands out.
Nalam Nala Ariya Aaval – Hands down, this is one of the best of Deva-SPB duo.
“Poosu Manjal” is one such song to revisit that makes any 90s kid nostalgic that will remind them of their summer vacations with family. Then there is “Oru Mani Adithal”, yet another underrated gem.
My personal all time favourite is Oodha Poo. Every time this song plays on TV in Raj Musix, no matter what I’m doing, I turn up the volume and take a break from what I do. It’s so soothing to listen to on a weekday afternoon.
All songs from Mugavaree are bangers especially Hey Keechukiliye and Hey Nilave. It is through this movie that bro introduced us to Backstreet Boys.
Similarly all songs from Appu are underrated. Koila Koila stands out.
What SPB was to Ilaiyarajaa, Hariharan was to Deva. So many songs that remain evergreen even today.
Here are some other gems.
- Kanchi Pattu Sela Katti
- Anbe Enn Anbe — Nenjinile
- Megathil Ondrai Nindrom — Kadhal Sadugudu
- Mudhan Mudhalil Parthen — Aaha
The list will keep going on and on. Here’s the playlist.
Be it Rajinikanth, Vijay or Ajith, none of them would be who they are today without Deva’s contribution to their cinematic journeys. From the larger-than-life musical aura he created for Rajini in Baashha and Annamalai, to the youthful, chocolate-boy image of Vijay in the 90s and the mass appeal that accompanied Ajith’s rise, Deva’s music played a huge role in shaping some of their most memorable screen moments. His songs became part of their identities, amplifying their charisma and giving fans anthems they continue to celebrate decades later. These stars had their own talent and screen presence, but Deva gave their films a musical identity that helped make those moments unforgettable. His contribution to their journeys deserves far more recognition than it often receives.
Several of his songs have been noted for their similarities to existing tracks, and Deva himself acknowledged using elements of Backstreet Boys songs in Mugavaree. He also explained that directors sometimes approached him with existing songs as references for the music they wanted.
Many criticize him for being a copycat – lifting heavily from English songs and music from other parts of the world. To me, Deva helped democratise Western pop sounds for a generation of Tamil listeners, bringing catchy rhythms, electronic arrangements and pop-inspired music into the familiar world of Tamil cinema.
Years from now, we may forget the plots of some of these films, but the moment a familiar tune plays, we will find ourselves singing along, remembering a summer afternoon, an old television set or a time when life felt simpler. That is the power of music, and that is Deva’s legacy. He may be remembered as the man who brought gaana into the mainstream, but his contribution to Tamil music goes far beyond any one genre or label. Deva didn’t just compose songs for our films; he gave an entire generation a soundtrack to its memories.
S. Kaushik is a writer with varied interests.
