Deva To Perform 40 Hits At Penang Concert

By Bernama Lifestyle Reporter

 GEORGE TOWN, March 9 (Bernama) — Tamil music legend Deva, affectionately known as Thenisai Thendral and the Gaana King, is set to electrify Penang with a high-energy marathon concert featuring around 40 songs in an evening packed with nostalgia and fan-favourite hits lasting more than four hours.

Deva, whose real name is Devanesan Chokkalingam, said the ‘Thenisai Baasha Deva Live in Penang’ concert will take place on March 28 at Setia Spice Arena here, celebrating his vast catalogue of hits that defined Tamil cinema in the 1990s and beyond.

He added that the setlist will be refreshed to offer something new for audiences who have attended his recent performances in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.

“I am still working on the song list and selecting which new songs can be included so that fans will have a different experience this time.

“This upcoming concert is expected to last between four and four-and-a-half hours, featuring about 40 songs from my extensive music catalogue,” the 75-year-old veteran music director and singer told a press conference here.

 Deva also expressed excitement about returning to perform in Penang, describing the state’s fans as energetic and highly supportive, adding that their enthusiasm makes every performance especially memorable.

The concert will feature a stellar lineup of singers, including his son Srikanth Deva, prolific playback singer Mano, who has recorded more than 35,000 songs, and Anuradha Sriram, who has sung over 5,000 tracks in multiple Indian languages. Several guest performers, including stars from Super Singer, will also take the stage.

pic-2

Beyond the concert, Deva shared that he is currently composing music for five new Tamil films, including an upcoming production titled Charukeshi, which revolves around the life of a musical genius and features a soundtrack composed entirely in the Carnatic classical style.

“I have composed many types of music such as folk, melodies and Western rock, but I have never done a film entirely based on Carnatic classical music. This has been my dream for the past 36 or 37 years,” he said, adding that the film is expected to be released in April.

A celebrated composer during the golden era of Tamil cinema in the 1990s, Deva is widely credited with popularising the gaana genre and producing numerous chart-topping hits for superstar actors including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay and Ajith.

Meanwhile, concert organiser Dr Kugilan Pushpanathan announced a unique concept for the event, where fans who purchase one ticket will be able to attend two concerts, offering greater value and a more memorable entertainment experience.

The founder of Key Global Network Sdn Bhd said the first night will feature Deva’s main performance, while the second show at the same venue will showcase a separate concert by National Award-winning playback singer Naresh Iyer, offering audiences a different musical genre and experience.

“Ticket prices start from RM99 and go up to about RM1,999 depending on seating categories. Ticket sales have also started to pick up following Deva’s arrival in Penang over the past few days,” he said.

Kugilan, who was born in Penang, also noted that a portion of the proceeds from the concerts will be channelled to charitable causes, including Tamil schools in Penang and the Malaysian Cancer Society, particularly to support children undergoing cancer treatment.

Tickets are available through the local ticketing platform www.greatticket.my.

-- BERNAMA