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Why did Music Director Deva introduce Gaana songs? His final words!
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News18•17-10-2026, 11:59
Why did Music Director Deva introduce Gaana songs? His final words!
- •Prominent Tamil cinema music director Thenisai Thendral Deva passed away at the age of 75 due to ill health.
- •Deva revealed that he introduced Gaana songs to carve out a unique identity between two musical giants, Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman.
- •He shared that early on, other music directors criticized his Gaana tracks, which were originally known as platform songs in Chennai.
- •He officially named the genre Gaana, comparing it to rural folk songs while highlighting the emotional depth of its singers.
- •His inspiring speech at the success meet of Meesaya Murukku 2 has now gone viral as his final public appearance.
Key Questions Answered
Music Director Deva introduced Gaana songs to carve out a unique identity between two towering musical giants of the industry, Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman, whose reigning styles made it difficult for others to avoid being compared to them.
The Tamil Nadu government awarded Music Director Deva the Kalaimamani title in 1992 to honor his significant contributions to art and music.
When he was young, Gaana songs did not have a specific name and were commonly referred to as 'Platform songs' because they lacked traditional rhymes or alliteration.
