Veteran percussionist Drummer Deva, widely hailed as the "Sivamani of Kannada cinema," passed away late Saturday night at his Rajarajeshwari Nagar residence following prolonged illness. He was 64.
Deva had suffered a stroke in June, which compounded existing health challenges. Prior to that, his right leg had been amputated due to severe gangrene. He was undergoing medical care at home before succumbing to complications.
Starting his journey from humble beginnings cleaning drum kits in Chamarajpet, Deva’s rise was fueled by sheer grit and passion. Recognizing his talent early on, actor-director Shankar Nag brought him from Madras to Bengaluru to work at Sanket Studio. Deva went on to play drums for over 800 film soundtracks across various languages, lending his signature beats to iconic songs featuring Dr Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar, and many other stars. He worked extensively alongside celebrated composers like Ilaiyaraaja, Hamsalekha, and Sadhu Kokila.
Beyond film scores, Deva a fan of the Indian Premiere League franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), was a fixture at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where his live drum solos routinely energised thousands of fans during RCB’s IPL matches. He is survived by his son and daughter.
