Chennai: Popular playback singer Krishnaraj Ramasamy, particularly known for his collaboration with the late music composer Deva, breathed his last in Chennai on Thursday (October 22, 2026). He was 75. The cause of death remains unknown at the moment.
The news comes during an unfortunate week for fans, friends and family of the late acclaimed composer ‘Thenisai Thendral’ Deva. Just days after the composer’s passing on October 17, his nephew and actor Karthik Sabesh passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on October 20. Now, with Krishnaraj’s death, the Tamil music fraternity has suffered a third loss in quick succession.
The Voice Behind Deva’s Hits
Krishnaraj crooned several Deva hits in the 1990s and 2000s, including ‘Vellarikka’, ‘Meesakkaara Nanbaa’ (the sad version), ‘Kathadikkuthu Kathadikkuthu’ and ‘Gopala Gopala’, among others.
He is perhaps best known as the voice behind Deva’s ‘Thanjavooru Mannu Eduthu’, the song from 1997’s Porkkaalam, which gained international fame after it was played at the state funeral of former Singapore President S.R. Nathan to fulfil one of his last wishes. Interestingly, Nathan saw the song as a metaphor for Singapore’s multiracial heritage — a remarkable afterlife for a Tamil film song that travelled far beyond its origins.
Career Beyond Deva
The singer is also known for collaborating with music composer Sirpy on the films Banda Paramasivam (2003) and Vinnukum Mannukum (2001). Over his long career, Krishnaraj also lent his voice to many devotional hits, including ‘Unnai Thedi’ and ‘Un Siragugal Nizhalil’.
Final Rites
According to sources, his mortal remains are set to be taken to his hometown, Vembadithalam in Salem district, on Friday morning.
The news of Krishnaraj’s passing has come as a shock to his fans and the music industry, coming as it does so soon after the loss of Deva, with whom his career was so closely intertwined.
