With profound grief, we mourn the passing of Drummer Deva, a humble and unassuming member of Karnataka’s percussion community.
Drummer Deva breathed his last at his residence in Rajarajeshwari Nagar after losing his right leg and later succumbing to paralysis.
His fascination with drums began at an early age after watching his schoolteacher, Harry, play the drums in Chamarajpet. Inspired by him, Deva began performing at school events and later joined orchestras. He trained in mridangam and Carnatic music under Shiva, studied Western music with Joseph, and later travelled to Chennai to learn from renowned drummer Shivamani, whom he regarded as his guru.
Deva’s musical journey took him across the world. His first overseas performance was in Dubai, followed by performances in the United States, Mauritius and Australia. In London, he performed with a symphonic orchestra and proudly carried the Kannada flag.
In the film industry, Shankar Nag was his mentor, and Deva worked with Hamsalekha for 14 years. He was associated with more than 1,500 films in Kannada, Tamil and other languages. Among his personal favorites were Geetha and Parva.
His greatest musical influences included his guru Shivamani, American drummer Billy Cobham and A.R. Rahman.
Deva also had a special association with Dr. Rajkumar. He regularly performed Dr. Rajkumar’s songs at Rajkumar Nights. On one occasion, Dr. Rajkumar told him that his long hair suited him and encouraged him to keep it. The distinctive hairstyle eventually became Deva’s signature look.
One of Deva’s cherished dreams was to create an album centered on the rhythm of human life—from birth to death. He envisioned an immersive musical experience that could transport listeners into a world of rhythm, particularly during long journeys.
For Deva, rhythm was more than music—it was an energy that connected performers, players and audiences.
During the IPL season in Bengaluru, he became a familiar and much-loved presence in the stadium, energizing players and spectators alike with his signature rhythms and high-energy performances.
Together with his friend Gopi, Deva created a 56-second “The Anthem” using only percussion instruments—a rare musical feat. It fulfilled a three-decade-old dream of presenting the National Anthem entirely through percussion.
With his team ‘Waves’, which he referred to in Kannada as ‘Devana Alegalu’, Deva explored the sounds of nature, recreating them through percussion in his performances. A few years ago, he also established Deva Divine Music near Vidyapeetha Circle in Bengaluru.
Deva independently handled the music for the Kannada films Shardoola, Meenina Hejje and Preethi Nee Heegeke.
From the thunder of his drums to the quiet simplicity of his personality, Deva leaves behind a distinctive musical legacy. His rhythms may have fallen silent, but the beat he created in the hearts of those who heard him will continue to resonate.
Drummer Deva may have left us, but his rhythm lives on.
