How the tag gaana overshadowed the melodious genius of Deva

When Deva started popularizing gaana songs in his films in the early 2000s, the genre became his unique identity and completely defined his legacy in the eyes of the public. | Photo credit: R. ASHOK

The opening scene of the recently released film Lubber Pandhu. Inside the bus, the song Rasithan Kai Rasithan is playing in Chitra’s voice. Enthralled by the music, the passenger joyfully praises Ilaiyaraaja and says, “Raaja is Raaja after all.” Hearing this, a student traveling in the same bus blurts out, “Raaja is indeed Raaja. But this is a Deva song.”

Tamizharasan Pachamuthu, the film’s director, later mentioned in interviews that this scene was deliberately placed to dispel the widespread misconception that many of Deva’s compositions—especially his soft, melodic compositions—were composed by someone else. To that extent, many songs composed by Deva were considered to be the work of Ilaiyaraaja or other music directors.

Whenever he traveled abroad for stage concerts, Tamil film music composer Deva sent a list of songs he planned to perform in advance. After studying it, the organizers called him and said, “Sir, it’s enough if you only sing songs composed by you. Deva replied, ‘Every single song on this list is composed by me.'” Even then, they would remain in doubt, asking if songs like Pulveli Pulveli from Aasai and Engenge Engenge sung by Asha Bhosle from Nerukku Ner were actually composed by him. “This hurt me deeply,” Deva admitted earlier in conversation.

Although his songs became chart hits, it caused him immense grief that the very listeners who celebrated these compositions never realized that the composer was behind them. Although Deva is widely celebrated for popularizing gaana songs in Tamil film music, this very fame has paradoxically overshadowed him and denied him the recognition he deserved for his mellow melodies.

Right from his inception, Deva has delivered a number of exceptional melodious songs. In one of his debut period films, Manasukketha Maharasa, the track Aathu Mettu Thoppukulla won everyone over. Similarly, songs like Chinna Ponnuthan and Kanne Karisal Mannu Poove stood out as mellow tunes in Vaigasi Poranthach, a film that etched the name Dev firmly in the hearts of Tamil music lovers.

Following this, the films he scored consistently featured mellow tunes. During the 1990s, Deva graced countless mellow compositions across a wide range of films, including Therku Theru Machana, Annamalai, Suryan, En Aasai Machan, Baashha, Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Nerukku Ner, Gokulathil Seethai, Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen and Vatali.

Yet, as Deva pointed out, many of his hit compositions continued to be mistaken for compositions by other music directors. When he started popularizing gaana songs in his films in the early 2000s, the genre became his unique identity and completely defined his legacy in the eyes of the public.

Published – 17 Oct 2026 21:48 IST