The association between filmmaker Suresh Krissna and music composer Deva began with Annamalai (1992), a film that also gave birth to one of the most enduring elements of Rajinikanth’s on-screen persona—the ‘Superstar’ logo. Over three decades later, their journey came full circle with Charukesi, their last film together. In between were numerous songs, films across languages, and a relationship that went far beyond their professional collaboration.
As the industry mourns the passing of Deva, Suresh Krissna, speaking exclusively to Cinema Express, reminisced about their 35-year association. The filmmaker remembered the composer not just for the music he created but also for the warmth, humility and humour that defined him.
“See, the first film I joined hands with him was Annamalai. That was in 1992. And his last film, Charukesi, is my film. In this 35-year journey, we have done many films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. For Anantha, we even did a song in Hindi. In a way, he would say that I took him to all languages,” Suresh says.
The filmmaker also recalled how their association extended across industries, with Annamalai marking the beginning of a particularly memorable journey. The iconic ‘Superstar’ logo, which Annamalai introduced, is still associated with Rajinikanth films, including in Jailer 2.
“Even now, I am so happy to see that the same logo we created for Annamalai is continuing in Jailer 2. We never thought it would become a permanent logo 35 years ago. I only had an idea. I thought, whenever Rajinikanth’s name comes up, people are already calling him Superstar, so why not make it a logo? Those were not the days of computer-generated imagery, but we managed to do it in a small way. We thought it would work, but we never imagined it would continue for so long,” he says.
Beyond the professional milestones, it was Deva’s nature that remained closest to Suresh Krissna's heart. The filmmaker describes the composer as someone whose warmth in private was no different from his public persona.
“The other side of him was almost seamless. He was very friendly. You would not see him talking one way in an interview and behaving differently in private. He was absolutely down to earth. You would not believe that somebody so popular, whom people praise so much, could be so warm and humble. He had no ego. If a song became a hit, if Annamalai became a hit, he would appreciate everybody. He never tried to take all the credit for himself. We always believed in teamwork,” Suresh Krissna recalls.
Their friendship, Suresh says, was built on the simplest of everyday gestures. Deva would greet him first thing in the morning and ask, “Ananda Coffee sapteengala?” It was a small exchange, but one that reflected the composer’s inclination to begin the day with kind words.
“Anandam was his favourite word. He told me, let us start by saying nice words to each other first thing in the morning, whenever we meet. We had such a warm relationship. He would always come and meet me first,” the filmmaker shares.
Humour, too, was an inseparable part of their conversations. Suresh Krissna recalled how Deva could hold an audience spellbound simply by narrating a story, making even ordinary moments memorable. Their association had remained particularly active over the last two years, when they worked together on Anantha and Charukesi.
“For the last two years, I was continuously with him because we were working on these two films. We would talk, discuss music and listen to songs. It was unbelievable how much humour there was in our conversations. There was so much coffee, so much talking, and we were working on two films back to back. He would also send me videos from his shows, saying, ‘Look at the way people are enjoying my songs.’ He was a very, very golden-hearted man. That is what I remember,” Suresh says.
Among the memories that stand out for Suresh Krissna is something Deva once told him about their relationship. “He recently said something that really touched me. He said, ‘Suresh Krissna is my director.’ He told me he would never say that about anybody else. He also said that every turning point in his life had come through me and that I had taken him to many places,” the filmmaker recalls.
Their bond, he says, had gradually grown into something akin to that of brothers, with both families becoming familiar with the relationship they shared. “It was not just a professional relationship. It went beyond that and became a friendship, almost like family. Everybody knew about it. Whatever I said, he would understand. That was the relationship we had. I was very touched by what he told me.”
The news of Deva’s passing, however, came as a shock to the filmmaker, especially given how active the composer had remained. Suresh recalled hearing that Deva had gone about his morning routine as usual before suffering a cardiac arrest.
“It was very sudden. He was still working on so many things and attending numerous shows. One thing that I was told was that he had not been suffering in the hospital or in the ICU. His son said that he had got up, shaved, had a cup of coffee and then suddenly suffered a cardiac arrest. He did not suffer,” Suresh explains.
Even as the industry comes to terms with the loss, Deva’s music continues to find new listeners, with his songs becoming a part of contemporary pop culture and drawing younger audiences to his live shows.
“Today, wherever his songs are played, even Gen Z audiences are dancing to them. He would be surprised and say, ‘Oh my God, Gen Z!’ He was very happy seeing how people were enjoying his music and how many shows were happening. That made me very happy, too,” Suresh Krishnan reveals.
For the filmmaker, Deva’s legacy is therefore not confined to the films they made together or the songs that became hits. It lives on in the affection of audiences across generations, in the music that continues to bring people together, and in the memory of a friend who never allowed fame to come between him and the people he loved.
