Days after the demise of veteran music composer Deva, Thambi Ramaiah has opened up about the musician while also defending actor and racer Ajith Kumar and legendary musician Ilaiyaraaja. Deva passed away on October 17 after suffering from a cardiac arrest.

Thambi Ramaiah was asked about Deva by the press outside an airport. He said, "A man like him doesn't just wear white on the outside, sir. He also has an incredible sense of humour. But beyond all that, think about this: it is one thing for a person born into a poor family in a remote village to achieve success. What is truly remarkable is how many people, after getting an education and making it big in life, forget their families."

Further, he was questioned about lack of condolence messages from Ajith Kumar and Ilaiyaraaja. He backed the former and continued, "Ajith Kumar was the one who gave him opportunities in many films during his early days. He could have visited the family and spoken to them privately. That may have happened without the news becoming public, right? It would not be appropriate for us to comment on something we don't know for certain. He is also abroad." For the unversed, Deva has composed music for many of Ajith's films, including Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, and Vaalee, among others.

Thambi Ramiah was then asked about CM Vijay's governance. He said, "Administration is all about how you handle government officials. He is gradually learning the nuances of managing them, one step at a time. I believe that, as time goes by, he will be able to fill the positions once occupied by leaders such as Kalaignar (K Karunanidhi) and Amma (Jayalalithaa)."

Further, the actor added that he cannot be compared to political veterans. "They say that when a space becomes vacant, the air eventually fills it. That is how the world works. Vijay has only just entered politics. How can anyone compare his four months in office with the tenures of established leaders? People are already comparing him to MGR, the revolutionary leader," he said.