"Krishnaraj had captivated the hearts of his fans."
Tamil playback singer Krishnaraj Ramasamy died in Chennai at age 75, leaving behind a celebrated and deeply cherished musical legacy.
The cause of his death remains unknown, with his family and the Tamil film industry still processing the sudden and painful loss.
According to a report, his body will be taken to his hometown of Vembadithalam in Salem for the final rites.
His passing has come at an extraordinarily difficult time for Tamil film music lovers, arriving just days after the death of legendary composer Deva.
Krishnaraj and Deva were frequent collaborators who together delivered some of Tamil cinema’s most memorable and beloved musical moments.
The grief within the music community has been compounded further by the death of Deva’s nephew, actor Karthik Sabesh, on October 20, 2026.
Three losses within the span of one week have cast a long and heavy shadow over Tamil cinema.
Playback singer Anuradha Sriram was among the first from the industry to rush to Krishnaraj’s Chennai home to offer her condolences.
Sriram had already been visibly emotional in the days preceding Krishnaraj’s death, having broken down publicly at the news of Deva’s passing.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor C Joseph Vijay paid a heartfelt tribute to the singer on X, expressing the profound sense of loss.
He wrote: “I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mr Krishnaraj, the renowned playback singer of Tamil cinema.
“With his unique voice and songs brimming with enthusiasm, playback singer Mr Krishnaraj had captivated the hearts of his fans.
“His demise is a great loss to Tamil cinema.”
“I convey my deepest condolences and comfort to his grieving family, relatives, friends, film industry colleagues, and all music lovers.”
Singer Chinmayi and fellow playback singer Sujatha Mohan also expressed their shock at the news.
Krishnaraj was known for the distinctive quality and warmth of his voice, which had made him a recognisable voice in Tamil film music.
His collaboration with composer Deva had produced some of the most energetic and crowd-pleasing tracks in South Indian cinema.
The pair’s musical partnership reflected a particular era in Tamil cinema when peppy, foot-tapping numbers defined the popular soundscape.
Krishnaraj’s voice was considered especially well-suited to the kind of high-energy and enthusiastic musical numbers that Deva so frequently composed.
Together they contributed significantly to the soundtrack of Tamil cinema during the 1990s and 2000s.
The news of his death following so closely on Deva’s has prompted many within the industry to reflect on the end of an era.
Several artists and fans have taken to social media to express their sorrow, sharing memories of Krishnaraj Ramasamy’s most beloved songs.
