Johnson (composer)

Johnson was born in Nellikkunnu near Trichur (Thrissur) in the state of Travancore-Cochin (now part of Kerala), on 26 March 1953.{{cite news |last1=S. Shivprasadh |title=Brilliant tunesmith bids adieu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/brilliant-tunesmith-bids-adieu/article2396324.ece |access-date=18 March 2023 |work=The Hindu |date=11 August 2016}} His father, the late Thattil Antony, was a bank employee. His secondary education was at St. Thomas School in Thope, Trichur. Johnson was a singer in the choir of Nellikkunnu St. Sebastian's Church. He used to sing in youth festivals and musical shows and joined the orchestra team of some local troupes and played harmonium in many concerts. He also used to sing in female voice in ganamelas (a stage show where film songs are sung by amateur or professional artists).{{cite web|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8499495&programId=7940851&channelId=-1073751205&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=4|title=മനുഷ്യത്വം ഉണ്ടോ സിനിമയിൽ|language=ml|access-date=2011-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808054455/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8499495&programId=7940851&channelId=-1073751205&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=4|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead}}

Within a few years, the club became one of the most sought after musical troupes in Kerala, and had more than fifty members. This club used to give accompaniment music to playback singers Jayachandran and Madhuri in their musical shows. It was Jayachandran who introduced Johnson to G. Devarajan, one of the most prolific composers of South Indian cinema then. 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.

Johnson began his independent career by composing the film scores of Bharathan's Aaravam (1978), Thakara (1980) 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 try his hand at direction. 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 so many western classical elements. 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 pre-composed song. Johnson worked for 11 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 Nombarathipoovu (1987). 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 collaborated 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, Kamal (Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal, Shubhayathra, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu and Paavam Paavam Rajakumaran), and Balachandra Menon (Shesham Kazhchayil, Premageethangal, Kilukilukkam, Kelkatha Shabdam and Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu).

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 Johnson's notable works were in the 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 for best music direction for the motion picture Ponthan Mada (1993). The next year he got his second National award for Sukrutham for the background score.

After an extremely successful career of more than a decade, Johnson took a sabbatical from film scoring by the end of the nineties. The quantity of his works began perishing during this time. By the beginning of the 2000s, he didn't sign any new projects that even his most noted collaborator Sathyan Anthikkad had to find a new composer. In 2003 he did the background score for the NFDC movie Parinamam (The Change) directed by P. Venu.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 other than himself. He returned strongly to the field with Photographer in 2006, which fetched him numerous awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3330/malayalam/photographer/preview.htm|title=Photographer Synopisis|publisher=Nowrunning.com|access-date=2011-02-23|archive-date=14 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714203639/http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3330/malayalam/photographer/preview.htm|url-status=dead}}

Johnson has released four non-film albums. His first album Sneha Deepika was released in 1989 on Tharangini audios. It had nine Christian devotional songs – "Aathma Swaroopa", "Unni Yesu Pirannu", "Manninum Poovinum", "Thumbapoo Polulla", "Bhoomikku Pulakam", "Manassakumengil", "Kulir Choodum", "Arthungal Innoru" and "Vidarnna Punchiri". The featured artists were K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra and Sujatha.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721223134/http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/php/createAlbumSongIndex.php?txt=Sneha deepika&stype=movie&submit=Find+Songs "Sneha Deepika (1989)"] His second album Onathappan, a collaboration with M. G. Radhakrishnan and Berny-Ignatius, consisted of nine festival songs. The track "Mundon Paadam" was composed by Johnson, sung by M. G. Sreekumar and had lyrics penned by Bichu Thirumala.[http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/a.php?784 "Onathappan"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721223138/http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/a.php?784 |date=21 July 2011 }} His third album Nannipoorvam Johnson, consisted of twelve tracks – "Chandanakkavilinnu", "Panineeru Peyyum", "Vasundhare", "Virunnu Vanna", "Prapanjam Sundaram", "Enthe Nee Varathe", "Nilasandhyayil", "Veruthe Onnu", "Ponnazhikkuttu", "Pranayappirave", "Kalindhi", and an introductory speech by Sreenivasan. The lyricists were R. K. Damodaran, Gireesh Puthenchery, Kaithapram, Bichu Thirumala, M. D. Rajendran, K. Jayakumar, S. Ramesan Nair and Poovachal Khader and the songs were rendered by K. J. Yesudas, P. Jayachandran, K. S. Chithra, M. G. Sreekumar, Aparna Rajeev, Dr. Rashmi Madhu and Johnson himself. In 2009, he released his second Christian devotional album entitled Parishudhan. It had eleven tracks – "Vazhiyum Sathyavum Nee Thanne (Vijay Yesudas), "Mullukal Kuthi" (Chithra), "Ariyathe Polum" (G. Venugopal), "Neethimanayavane" (Sujatha), "Traditional song" (Louis), "Mazhayum Veyilum" (Rimi Tomy), "Oru Viral Sparshathal (Sudheep), "Loka Palaka" (Chithra), Neethanthamam (Vijay Yesudas), and "Kannukalil Theliyum" (Manjari).

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 classical music and this has attained an expressive form of narration through film score.{{cite news

|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/April/theuae_April538.xml§ion=theuae&col

|title=Johnson brings an evening of melody to Dubai

|date=22 April 2010

|newspaper=Khaleej Times

|access-date=2011-02-23}} He composed for about 300 films, making him the second most composed music director in Malayalam, after his guru G. Devarajan. 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.

Johnson's favourite male singer was K. J. Yesudas, who has recorded many songs for him, while S. Janaki and K. S. Chithra were his favourite female singers. Chithra had some of her most noted songs with Johnson.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2007100660471100.htm&date=2007%2F10%2F06%2F&prd=th& |title="Johnson: a versatile composer who hums a retreat note" |access-date=7 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207090502/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2007100660471100.htm&date=2007%2F10%2F06%2F&prd=th& |archive-date=7 February 2008 |url-status=usurped }}

Johnson is fondly called Johnson Master (Johnson Mashu) by Malayalee audiences. Even his contemporaries and competitors refer him with the tag 'Master' ('mash' in Malayalam).

His background scoring style has a cult following. His scores from Thoovanathumbikal, Namukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal, Manichitrathazhu, Thaniyavarthanam, Chitram, Bharatham, Aparan, Kireedam, Sukrutham are considered to be amongst the best.

Johnson won his first National Film Award for the Best Music Direction for the film Ponthan Mada (1994) and the very next year he won his second National film award for the Best Background score for the film Sukrutham (1995){{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/08/04/stories/2006080401000300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314220126/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/08/04/stories/2006080401000300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 March 2007|title=Conjuror of tunes |author=P.K.Ajith Kumar|newspaper=The Hindu|date=4 August 2006}} He was the first Malayalee music composer to receive a National award in music category and is also the only Malayalee music director who received two national awards in music category. This film has one song Adimarunge ayyayya (അടിമരുങ്ങേ അയ്യയ്യാ) lyrics by O. N. V. Kurup and sung by K. S. Chithra and chorus composed by Johnson. This is a folk song. National film award committee noted that he brilliantly integrated western folk tunes into this song.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} The award was given for best music direction and background score of this film. He has received three Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director, for the films Ormakkayi (1982), Vadakkunokkiyantram and Mazhavil Kavadi (1989), and Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu (1999). He was awarded the Kerala State Film Award for Best Background Music for the films Sadayam (1992) and Sallapam (1996). He has thus received five Kerala State Film Awards in music category, an achievement he shares with Devarajan. He has received the Kerala Film Critics Awards four times, the most recent in 2008 for Gulmohar. In 2007, he won the Mathruboomi Award for Best Music Director for Photographer (2006).{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/33604.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015145930/http://indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/33604.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2007|title=Mammootty, Padmapriya bags Mathrubhumi awards |website=IndiaGlitz|date=15 September 2007|access-date=2011-02-23}} He won the Mullasserry Raju Music Award for the song "Enthe Kannanu Karuppu Niram", also from the same film. In addition, he has received numerous other awards and nominations including Devarajan Master Memorial Award and Raveendran Master Memorial Award.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071110074018/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2007092151300200.htm&date=2007%2F09%2F21%2F&prd=th& "A treat for music lovers"]}}. The Hindu. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2011.

Johnson died at his home in Chennai on 18 August 2011 at the age of 58, due to a massive heart attack.{{cite news |title=Music maestro Johnson no more |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2011/aug/19/music-maestro-johnson-no-more-282874.html |access-date=18 March 2023 |work=The New Indian Express |date=19 August 2011}} He was survived by his wife Rani Johnson, son Renn Johnson and daughter Shan Johnson. Renn Johnson died on 25 February 2012 in a motorbike accident in Chennai.{{cite news|title=Music director Johnson's son Ren dies in accident|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=120570|access-date=25 February 2012|newspaper=Mathrubhumi|date=25 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226150126/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=120570|archive-date=26 February 2012|df=dmy-all}} Shan Johnson, a trained singer and musician, died of a cardiac arrest at her flat in Chennai on 5 February 2016. They are interred at the St Sebastian's church cemetery in Nellikunnu, Thrissur.

{{cite news |title=Late music director Johnson's daughter Shan found dead in Chennai |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-late-music-director-johnson-s-daughter-shan-found-dead-in-chennai-2174333 |access-date=18 March 2023 |work=Daily News and Analysis |date=5 February 2016}}{{cite news |title=Shan Johnson died of cardiac arrest: Autopsy report |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/shan-johnson-died-cardiac-arrest-autopsy-report-38656 |access-date=18 March 2023 |work=The News Minute |date=7 February 2016}}

The following lists out the films in which Johnson composed the background score but not songs.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Aakaashakottayile Sulthaan
• Aalorungi Arangorungi
• Aaraante Mulla Kochumulla
• Aaravam
• Aaryan
• Arabikkadal
• Abhimanyu
• Adimachangala
• Agnisharam
• Ambada Njaane
• Amaram
• Amrutham
• Arayannangalude Veedu
• Avidatheppole Ivideyum
• Bharatham
• Chamaram
• Chithram
• Chakravalam Chuvannappol
• Chithrathoonukal
• Dhanam
• Dheem Tharikidathom
• Ee Kaikalil
• Ekantham
• English Medium
• Ente Hridayathinte Udama
• Ente Kaanakkuyil
• Ithum Oru Jeevitham
• Iniyum Kurukshethram
• Kaanaakkinaavu
• Kaarunyam
• Kaaryam Nissaaram
• Kadathanadan Ambadi
• Kadaksham
• Kamaladalam
• Kazhukan
• Keli
• Kaikudanna Nilavu
• Kissan
• Kinnarippuzhayoram
• Kodumudikal
• Koodum Thedi
• Krishnapakshakkilikal
• Kudumbapuraanam
• Kunjaattakkilikal
• Maayamayooram
• Madhya Venal
• Manasiloru Manimuthu
• Manichithrathazhu
• Mankamma
• Mizhineerppoovukal
• Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu
• Mizhi Randilum
• Mounanombaram
• No. 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North
• Nokketha Dhoorathu Kannum Nattu
• Nombarathi Poovu
• Nyayavidhi
• Orma Mathram
• Ottayal Pattaalam
• Oru Cheru punchiri
• Puzha
• Paadamudra
• Parinayam
• Pooram
• Post Box Number 27
• Pradakshinam
• Raagam Thaanam Pallavi
• Shreeraagam
• Snehapoorvam Meera
• Sukrutham
• Susanna
• Soorya Gaayathri
• Thalavattam
• Thazhvaram
• Thakara
• Thaniyavarthanam
• Theekkaattu
• Thoovanathumbikal
• Uncle Bun
• Uthara
• Utharam
• Vadhu Doctoraanu
• Vaadakaveettile Athidhi
• Vandanam
• Valkannadi
• Vellanakalude Nadu
• Vedikkett
• Venkalam
• Vishnulokam

{{div col end}}

In an interview with Malayala Manorama, Johnson listed the following 13 songs as his favourite songs.

• "Aadivaa Katte" (Koodevide)
• "Nee Nirayoo Jeevanil" (Premageethangal)
• "Swapnam Verumoru Swapnam" (Premageethangal)
• "Poo Venam" (Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam)
• "Melle Melle Mukhapadam" (Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam)
• "Gopike Nin Viral" (Kattathe Kilikkoodu)
• "Devankanangal" (Njan Gandharvan)
• "Swarna mukile" (Ithu Njangaludey Kadha)
• "Thankathoni" (Mazhavilkavadi)
• "Sundari Poovinu Naanam" (Ente Upasana)
• "Shyamambharam" (Artham)
• "Enthe Kannanu Karuppu Niram" (Photographer)
• "Oru Naal" (Gulmohar)

{{reflist|2}}21.^ https://youtube.com/VVc3qiSW0gc?si=pq-uxaTwd-kSNKBd Medley of Jhonson Master's Background scores by www.m3db.com (Malayalam Movie & Music Database)

• {{IMDb name|0424420|Johnson}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110721223113/http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/php/displayProfile.php?category=musician&artist=Johnson Johnson] at the Malayalam Movie Database
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110721223122/http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/php/createSongIndex.php?txt=Johnson&stype=musician A list of 700 songs by Johnson]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110819030102/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=208219 Johnson Master Passed away]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110820034940/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/story.php?id=1122&cat_id=503 'കുന്നിമണിച്ചെപ്പ് തുറന്ന് – രവി മേനോന്‍' in Mathrubhumi Online]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110819030134/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/static/others/newspecial/index.php?cat=806 'ആരോടും മിണ്ടാതെ' in Mathrubhumi Online]
• [http://www.manoramaonline.com/advt/Music/Tribute-to-Johnson/index.htm 'ഓര്‍മ്മയ്ക്കായ്' in Manorama Online]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120223193002/http://www.globalindianewswire.com/index.php/20110824251/Features/Entertainment/malayalam-film-industry-never-recognized-johnsons-worth.html Malayalam film industry never recognized Johnson's worth: G. Venugopal]

{{NationalFilmAwardBestMusicDirection}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson}}

Category:Musicians from Thrissur

Category:Malayalam film score composers

Category:Best Music Direction National Film Award winners

Category:Best Background Score National Film Award winners

Category:20th-century Indian composers

Category:21st-century Indian composers

Category:Film musicians from Kerala

Category:1953 births

Category:2011 deaths