Physicians who attended to Deva in his final hours have spoken about the circumstances surrounding his death. The composer, who held the title 'Thenisai Thendral' across a career in film music, died from a heart attack that physicians were unable to treat successfully.
Physicians noted that a pre-existing cardiac condition, combined with the state in which he arrived at the facility, left his prospects for recovery limited. Doctors and nurses on the scene administered urgent care following established protocols, then notified his relatives that resuscitation attempts had been unsuccessful.
In a television interview, Dr. Sivadarshini — who leads the Anaesthesia and Critical Care department at a Nungambakkam-based private hospital in Chennai — outlined the steps taken by her team in attempting to keep Deva alive. "No signs of life were present when we arrived," she recalled.
Dr. Sivadarshini described advanced cardiac life support as the protocol applied when a patient has no detectable heartbeat, encompassing chest compressions and defibrillation. She stated that treatment was delivered at the highest level permitted under the applicable protocol. Resuscitation attempts continued for close to an hour and a half, yet the patient did not respond and the medical team was unable to restore a heartbeat. She told those gathered that attempts to restart the heart had not succeeded.
Attending physicians found no detectable heartbeat, and Deva was subsequently found to have a pre-existing cardiac condition that had given way to a full cardiac arrest. Outlining the variables that weighed on his recovery, Dr. Sivadarshini noted that the time spent in transit beforehand had, alongside other contributing factors, diminished the likelihood of survival, and she went on to stress the value of prompt intervention when the heart ceases to function.
The physician noted that Deva's pre-existing heart condition, combined with his age, worked against his prospects of pulling through. She drew a distinction, however, noting that the time taken to reach hospital was only one piece of the picture rather than the sole explanation for the outcome. How severe the illness had become played a part in the outcome, she noted, even though treatment had reportedly been started at home before any professional intervention.
Resuscitation efforts by the attending medical team proved unsuccessful, and the veteran composer did not survive. Condolences were extended to his family by the medical team, who indicated that established protocols had been followed throughout and that no available measure had been left untried.
Credited with drawing Chennai's gaana tradition into the broader Tamil film industry, Deva built a catalogue that spanned productions including 'Baashha,' 'Annamalai,' and 'Aasai,' and separately crafted the recurring musical motif tied to Rajinikanth's on-screen appearances. Reports of his passing have prompted audiences to reflect on both the catalogue of popular songs he produced and the distinctive approach to Tamil film music that defined his work.
