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Johnson is an Indian film score composer and music director who has given music to some of the most important motion pictures of Malayalam cinema. He is noted for his lyrical and expressive melodies together with simple but rich tonal compositions of thematic music. Johnson is a recipient of National Film Award for Best Background Score twice and Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director five times.
He started his career as an assistant to G. Devarajan in 1970s,[1] and debuted as an independent composer in late seventies with Aaravam.[2] He was a recurrant collaborator for directors Padmarajan, Bharathan, Sathyan Anthikkad, T. V. Chandran, Kamal, Lohithadas, Balachandra Menon and Mohan.[2] He has composed for more than 300 Malayalam films, the most by any composer except for Devarajan.[2]
Johnson was born in a musically affluent Christian family in Nellikkunnu, Thrissur, Kerala, on 26 March 1953. His father was a Bank employee. He is married to Rani Johnson and has two children, Shan and Renn.
He was singer in the choir of Nellikkunnu St. Sebastain's Church. Johnson obtained training in guitar and harmonium from his colleagues during this early periods itself. He used to sing in youth festivals and musical shows. He joined the orchestra team of some local troupes and played harmonium in many concerts. Johnson once in an interview recalled that his remuneration was just Rs. 10 per show during this time.
In 1968, Johnson and his friends formed a club named Voice of Thrissur. Johnson was the main instrumentalist in the club, and he played wide varieties of instruments - guitar, harmonium, flute, drums and violin. Within a few years, the club became one of the most sought after musical troups in Kerala, and had more than fifty members. This club used to orchestrate playback singer Jayachandran's musical shows. It was Jayachandran who introduced Johnson to G. Devarajan, the most prolific composer of South Indian cinema. Devarajan literally adopted Johnson and brought him to Chennai in 1974. Johnson bought an accordion, during this period, from R. K. Shekhar (A. R. Rahman's father), and began assisting Devarajan in filmscoring and composing. The "Johnson effect" can be easily noted in Devarajan's songs and film scores of this period.
Johnson began his career as an independent composer by composing the film scores of Aaravam, Thakara and Chamaram (1980). He composed his first soundtracks for the film, Inaye Thedi, debut film of director turned still photographer Antony Eastman and actress Silk Smitha. It was Devarajan himself, who suggested Johnson to the director. Then came Bharathan's Parvathi and Balachandra Menon's Premageethangal. Premageethangal was a notable success with four of its songs - "Swapnam Verumoru Swapnam", "Nee Nirayoo Jeevanil", "Muthum Mudipponnum" and "Kalakalamozhi" attaining cult status.
He came to prominence through his collaboration with Malayalam author and director Padmarajan. Koodevide was their first venture, which had one of the most famous songs of Johnson "Aadivaa Kaatte", a pathbreaking song in Malayalam music history. It was one of the first songs in Malayalam to have a grant orchestral score. The song was born out of Padmarajan's need for a western song for his innovative film. Song composition took place in Woodland's Hotel, Chennai. Another notable feature of this song was the lyrics by O. N. V. Kurup, who for the first time wrote lyrics for a prewritten song. Johnson worked for 17 films with Padmarajan, including his last film Njan Gandharvan. This productive collaboration saw the detailed screenplay and cinematography of Padmarajan become a fertile ground for expressive musical narration and thematic scores for Johnson. This is seen in some of the greatest motion pictures of Malayalam cinema, like Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986), Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam (1987), Nombarathipoovu (1987) and Perumthachan (1990). Another notable collaboration of Johnson was with director Sathyan Anthikkad, with whom he associated in almost 25 films. He was able to provide some of his most popular songs with Anthikkad and this combo is widely accepted to be one of the greatest director-composer collaborations in Malayalam cinema. Acclaimed Malayalam director Bharathan also collabrated with him in multiple films including Parvathy, Palangal, Ormakkayi, Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Ente Upasana, Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam, Ozhivukalam, Malootty, Chamayam and Churam. His major other collaborations with directors include Mohan (Oru Katha Oru Nunakkatha, Sakshyam, Pakshe and Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu), Sibi Malayil (Kireedam, Chenkol, Dasaratham and Nee Varuvolam), Sreenivasan (Vadakkunokkiyantram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala), Lohithadas (Bhoothakkannadi and Arayannangalude Veedu), Kamal (Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal, Shubhayathra, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu and Paavam Paavam Rajakumaran), and Balachandra Menon (Shesham Kazhchayil, Premageethangal, Kilukilukkam and Kelkatha Shabdam).
He is also noted for his collaboration with the Malayalam lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. Their association began in 1989 with Sathyan Anthikkad's social satire Varavelpu. Most of Jonhnson's notable works came in late eighties and early nineties. In 1991, he scored a record number of 31 films, including 29 with Kaithapram. Johnson won National awards for two consecutive years. He won his first National Award in 1994 for the motion picture Ponthan Mada (1993). The next year he got his second award for Sukrutham. Both the awards were for the background score in films. Johnson is the only musician to get this rarely given award twice. He was the first Malayalee music composer to receive an award in Music category. He is also the only malayalee music director who received two national awards. He has received five Kerala State Film Awards, an achievement he shares with Devarajan.
Johnson took a sabattical from film scoring in late nineties. The quality and quantity of his works were limited during this time. By the beginning of 2000s, he didn't sign any new projects that even his most noted collaborator Sathyan Anthikkad had to find a new composer. In 2004, he sang the song "Theekuruvi" from Kangalal Kaidhu Sei, which was composed by A. R. Rahman. Perhaps it is the only song recorded by him for any composer. He returned strongly to the field with Photographer in 2006, which fetched him numerous awards.[3] Currently, Anjali is working on five films simultaneously.
His skilful integration of textual rhythm of the lyrics together with rich tonal arrangement, redefined songwriting in Malayalam cinema, since the late 1980s. In his film scores, Johnson combines native South Indian melodic patterns with the harmonic structure of European classical music and this has attained an expressive form of narration through film score.[4] He composed for about 300 films. Though he has obtained no formal training in classical music, he was able to incorporate the beauty of Carnatic ragas in his songs. Most of his songs were composed on Kalyani raga. He changed the old music concept to the new version. He created a lot of hits based on his back ground music because those were emotionally touching.
Johnson's favourite male singer is K. J. Yesudas, who has recorded many songs for him, while S. Janaki and K. S. Chithra are his favourite female singers. Chithra had some of her most noted songs with Johnson.[5]
Johnson is fondly called Johnson Master (Johnson Mashu) by Malayalee audiences. He is affectionately described as the "John Williams of Malayalam cinema", after the Hollywood composer John Williams.[4]
| Year | Album | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Cheriyachente Kroora Krithyangal | 1981 | Premageethangal, Oridathoru Fileman, Inaye Thedi, Raktham, Chaatta, Parvathi |
| 1982 | Football, Sooryan, Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam, Kelkatha Sabdam, Paalangal, Kilukilukkam, Swarna Gopuram, Ithu Njangalude Kadha, Ormakkai, Thuranna Jail | 1983 | Koodevide, Shesham Kaazhchayil, Kolakkomban, Onnu Chirikkoo, Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Naseema, Thamburu, Thavalam, Ivide Thudangunnu |
| 1984 | Parannu Parannu Parannu, Sandarbham, Ente Upasana, Swanthamevide Bandhamevide | 1985 | Akkacheede Kunjivava, Nerariyum Nerathu, Oru Kudakkeezhil, Makan Ente Makan, Kadha Ithu Vare, Mounanombaram, Upaharam, Sannaham, Jwalanam, Oduvil Kittiya Vartha, Aa Neram Alpa Dooram, Ozhivukalam |
| 1986 | Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, Oru Kadha Oru Nunakkadha, Neram Pularumpol, Akalangalil, Kariyila Kattu Pole, Ice Cream, Malamukalile Daivam, Ente Entethumathram, Thidambu | 1987 | Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam, Sruthi, Athinumappuram, Ithente Needhi, Arinjo Ariyatheyo, Onnam Manam Poomanam, Archana Pookkal, Kathirippinte Thudakkam |
| 1988 | Aparan, Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu, Isabella | 1989 | Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal, Varavelpu, Varnatheru, Radham, Nerunnu Nanmakal, Lal Americayil, Kireedam, Artham, Dasaratham, Vadakkunokkiyantram, Mazhavilkavadi, Pradesikavarthakal, Pandu Pandoru Desathu |
| 1990 | Nanma Niranjavan Sreenivasan, Malootty, Paavakkoothu, Varthamanakaalam, Muppathi Randam Naal, Shubhayathra, Sunday 7 PM, Sandram, Dr. Pasupathy, Kalikalam, Gajakesariyogam, Rajavazhcha, Kouthuka Vaarthakal, Ee Kanni Koodi, Cheriya Lokavum Valiya Manushyarum, Niyamam Endu Cheyyum, Orukkam, Thalayanamanthram, Pavam Pavam Rajakumaran, Kaattukuthira, Sasneham, Mridula, Mukham, Ananthanum Appukkuttanum Anayundu, Khalasi | 1991 | Kakka Thollayiram, Sundari Kakka, Nettipattam, Beli, Chanchaattam, Perunthachan, Kankettu, Ezhunnaallathu, Mimics Parade, Athiradhan, Arangu, Kanal Kaattu, Innathe Program, Karpoora Deepam, Aanavaal Mothiram, Sandhesam, Apoorvam Chilar, Ennum Nanmakal, Njaan Gandharvan, Nagarathil Samsaaravishayam, Cheppukilukkana Changaathi, Nayam Vyakthamaakkunnhu |
| 1992 | My Dear Mutthachan, Thalasthaanam, Kunukkkitta Kozhi, Mahanagaram, Kasargode Khadarbhai, Snehasaagaram, Ootty Pattanam, Aadharam, Maanthrika Cheppu, Ezharapponnana, Savidham, Kudumba Sametham, Neelakkurukkan, Sadhayam, Poochaikkaru Manikettum, Aayaram Gayaram, Ambathu Lakshavum Maruthi Karum | 1993 | Addheham Enna Iddheham, Golaanthara Vaartha, Samooham, Ghoshayaathra, Ente Sreekuttiku, Maanavam, Samaagamam, Chenkol, Agneyam, O Faby, Meleparambil Aanveedu, Chamayam, Naaraayam, Thalamura, Paamaram |
| 1994 | CID Unnikrishnan B.A. B.ed, Rajadhaani, Pakshe, Ponthan Mada, The City, Kudumba Visesham, Sandanagopaalam, Manathe Vellitheru, Bhagyavaan, Chakoram, Pingami, Malappuram Haji Mahanaayajoji, Kunjikkili, Leader | 1995 | Ezharakuttam, Saadaram, Ormakal Undaayirikkanam, Kaatttile Thadi Thevarude Aana, Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta, Sunny Scooter, Sakshyam, Thovala Pookkal |
| 1996 | Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, Kanchanam, Thooval Kottaram, Udyaana Paalakan, Sallapam, Aayiram Naavulla Ananthan, Kalyana Saugandhikam | 1997 | Irattakuttikalude Achan, Killikurisiyile Kudumbhamela, Adivaaram, Bhoothakannadi, Manthra Mothiram, Kudamaattam, Sankeerthanam Pole, Guru Sishyan, Oral Mathram, Itha Oru Snehagadha, Churam, Maanasam, Nee Varuvolam, Snehasindhooram, Rishyasringan, Athyunnathangalil Koodaram Panithavar, Vachalam, Sammanam |
| 1998 | Aayushmaanbhava, Manjukaalavum Kazhinju, Vismayam, Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala, Ormacheppu, Kusrithikuruppu, Thirakalkkappuram, Mankamma | 1999 | Angane Oru Avadikkalathu, Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal |
| 2000 | Swayamvara Pandhal, Susanna, Ee Mazha Thenmazha, Oru Cheru Punchiri | 2001 | Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka, Uthaman, The Gift of God, Police Academy |
| 2002 | Yathrakarude Sradhakku, Danny, Stop Violence, Suvarna Mohangal | 2003 | Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam |
| 2006 | Kisan, Photographer | 2007 | AKG |
| 2008 | Gulmohar | 2009 | Vellathooval |
| 2011 | Anandhan Pillai Adhava Arjunan Pillai, Nadakame Ulakam, Navagatharkku Swagatham, Bharyamar Adharikkapedunnu, Khilafath |
The following lists out the films in which Johnson composed the background score but not songs. Template:Multicol
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In an interview with Malayala Manorama, Johnson listed the following 13 songs as his favourite songs.
Other awards: