Veteran actor Kamal Haasan mourned his dear brother and renowned Tamil music composer and singer Deva after he passed away on Saturday. Popularly known as ‘Thenisai Thendral’, the musician breathed his last at a private hospital in Chennai on October 17, at the age of 75.Remembering their time working together, Kamal Haasan shared an emotional tribute in Tamil, recalling their collaborations on films such as ‘Avvai Shanmugi’, ‘Pammal K. Sambandam’ and ‘Panchatanthiram’.

Kamal Haasan remembers their film collaborations

In his tribute, Kamal Haasan described Deva as a lively and enthusiastic person who loved humour and hearty laughter.Kamal Haasan wrote in Tamil which loosely translated in English reads, “The news of my dear brother Deva’s passing is shocking. He was a vibrant soul, full of enthusiasm and zeal, with a penchant for light-hearted humor and hearty laughter. Memories of the joyful times we shared working together on films like Avvai Shanmugi, Pammal K. Sambandam, and Panchatanthiram come flooding back.”He also offered his condolences to the composer’s family, adding, “My heartfelt tribute to him. My deepest condolences and words of comfort to his family.”

Celebrities pay tribute to Deva

Several actors and filmmakers took to social media to express their grief over Deva’s passing and remember his contribution to Indian cinema.Malayalam actor Navin Pauly, known for ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, wrote on X, “Rest in peace Deva Sir…Your music will echo through generations.”Singer Chinmayi Sripaada also expressed her sadness, writing, “Just dont know how to process the passing of Deva Sir. Huge loss.”Tamil filmmaker RJ Balaji shared a picture of the composer and remembered working with him on Mookuthi Amman. He wrote, “Deeply saddened by the passing of #Deva sir, a true legend of Tamil cinema whose music has touched generations. Having had the blessing of working with him in Mookuthi Amman will always remain a cherished memory. His legacy will live on through his timeless music. Heartfelt condolences.”Deva was widely recognised for composing music across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema. His work as a composer and singer earned him the affectionate title ‘Thenisai Thendral’ among fans.