{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/141075/deva",
  "name": "Deva",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/141075/deva",
  "knownForDepartment": "Sound",
  "description": "Devanesan Chokkalingam, popularly known as Deva, is an Indian film composer and singer. He has composed songs and provided background music for Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films in a career spanning about 20 years. Many know his gaana songs, written mostly using Madras Tamil. He is known as the \"Father of Gaana Genre\" in the Tamil film industry.\n\nDeva 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.",
  "birthDate": "1950-11-20",
  "birthPlace": "Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India",
  "alternateName": [
    "ദേവ",
    "దేవా",
    "Devanesan Chokkalingam",
    "Thenisai Thendral"
  ],
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/nmqZFoKHq52PpAgkd1wdjO11ne.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222148"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "6 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 370076,
      "title": "Theri",
      "year": "2016",
      "role": "Playback Singer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/f6BhexotEqO3GejXa3FopBNGL6M.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/370076/theri-2016"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 277879,
      "title": "Appu",
      "year": "2000",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/xfnBVUGpoYJ4WQPrOykBXXhdXVj.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/277879/appu-2000"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 66245,
      "title": "Arunachalam",
      "year": "1997",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.283,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vplqDhbUk5GMPUosMuQy91NePxv.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/66245/arunachalam-1997"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 48759,
      "title": "Sivakasi",
      "year": "2005",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.517,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/cdyiZ7y9WBUwpGBk3B4cQmfgyAp.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/48759/sivakasi-2005"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 680652,
      "title": "Karnan",
      "year": "2021",
      "role": "Playback Singer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.3,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/z5SxDcVWa9nokynVqBHb2IKk78J.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/680652/karnan-2021"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 261844,
      "title": "Once More",
      "year": "1997",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.667,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/4CrcRVrYb4EIB4zoZ96WX5Cur7O.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/261844/once-more-1997"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69654,
      "title": "Kushi",
      "year": "2000",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.983,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/n0bz0nX3GqPKfoXY8kH8QFTyWCs.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69654/kushi-2000"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69648,
      "title": "Bagavathi",
      "year": "2002",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/2YQPo7auhlviwYHxkgresGCVgSm.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69648/bagavathi-2002"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 14445,
      "title": "Michael Madana Kama Rajan",
      "year": "1990",
      "role": "Playback Singer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.2,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/3TzfpFmdTuwRczVmJzB3P9xsHGD.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/14445/michael-madana-kama-rajan-1990"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69423,
      "title": "Kadhal Kottai",
      "year": "1996",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.4,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/eUOkKAbc8hAiTWoLxaoDWRMWnKC.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69423/kadhal-kottai-1996"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69655,
      "title": "Minsara Kanna",
      "year": "1999",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/nQO4fmS667ySGnGo32G0YvZDsqx.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69655/minsara-kanna-1999"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 1169816,
      "title": "Partner",
      "year": "2023",
      "role": "Playback Singer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/wpL2iA6xYEWKZudrX0Tup6iliNe.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/1169816/partner-2023"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 77097,
      "title": "Viyabari",
      "year": "2007",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.2,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/9Ok5hPKyqssq3vbgMpB33Wf3k1m.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/77097/viyabari-2007"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 49074,
      "title": "Baasha",
      "year": "1995",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.643,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/xPSw9PLzYFKTVphw9ErZcBPKUsd.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/49074/baasha-1995"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 78647,
      "title": "Ninaithen Vandhai",
      "year": "1998",
      "role": "Music",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/pliW8t6LKHe9xEhM01oWSKRVKeS.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/78647/ninaithen-vandhai-1998"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 49033,
      "title": "Panchatanthiram",
      "year": "2002",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.044,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ofTPB176uIsjGTdsZbQrVE86yxA.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/49033/panchatanthiram-2002"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 848111,
      "title": "Vasalil Oru Vennila",
      "year": "1991",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/848111/vasalil-oru-vennila-1991"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69428,
      "title": "Vaali",
      "year": "1999",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gHu0yg869aw51CZXEVAW8P3N0dz.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69428/vaali-1999"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69399,
      "title": "Citizen",
      "year": "2001",
      "role": "Music",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.3,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/A7OYNRIbsDA91PIE3EgzfyA1Swb.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69399/citizen-2001"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69419,
      "title": "Red",
      "year": "2002",
      "role": "Music",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.1,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/rU2dFHJLKvPwpmMAi7WGCfUAWLZ.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69419/red-2002"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 78664,
      "title": "Priyamudan",
      "year": "1998",
      "role": "Music",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.2,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/4i5KE2A31HAk6uAhWo1RXmJwZSi.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/78664/priyamudan-1998"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69404,
      "title": "Mugavari",
      "year": "2000",
      "role": "Original Music Composer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/yy8wGIhuVaDDBrJHc9m1VkjsT7H.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69404/mugavari-2000"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 78963,
      "title": "Kallazhagar",
      "year": "1999",
      "role": "Music",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/78963/kallazhagar-1999"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 69422,
      "title": "Aasai",
      "year": "1995",
      "role": "Music",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.214,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/baIB9Ufp9xsn8Op6mWt47XMw9vh.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/69422/aasai-1995"
    }
  ]
}