RICH TRIBUTE PAID TO
MUSIC DIRECTOR JOHNSON
Malayalam music director Johnson died of a heart attack Thursday,18th, August,2011, evening at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre. He was 58. Hundreds of songs composed by Johnson have been known for their emotional intensity and mellifluous touch. Apart from film songs, he had also composed scores of devotional songs, especially Christian devotionals. Johnson had twice won the national award and the Kerala Government's best music director award five times. He also made a mark in background music in films and won the national award for the film 'Ponthanmada' in that category. Known as Johnson Master in South Indian film circles, he composed his most popular songs since early 2000 for films like 'Gulmohar' and 'Mazhavilkavadi'. His other notable scores were for the hits 'Minaminiginte Korunuvattom' and 'Kireedom.' Johnson started his career with Bharathan's 'Aravam' in 1978. Till then he had worked with most of the leading film directors, lyricists, signers and artistes. He also excelled in handling instruments like guitar, drums and accordian. Members of the film fraternity, including singers and fellow composers, expressed profound grief at his unexpected demise. Johnson enriched Malayalam cinema with brilliantly orchestrated, soul stirring songs. With his abilities as a self taught instrumentalist who could play several instruments and his composing skills honed under the mentorship of veteran G. Devarajan, Johnson straddled the music scene from the late 1970s and established a style of his own. He knew Western music, its principles of harmony, chord progression, and orchestral arrangement techniques.
He blended the knowledge well with tunes invoked from the native Indian spirit. The outcome created magic in films such as Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, Oru Minnaminuginte Nurungu vettam. He was regular composer for the films of Padmarajan,Bharathan, Satyan Anthikad, T.V Chandran,Kamal, Lohithdas, and Balachandramenon. The film world first noticed him through the scores for Aravam(1978), thakara(1980) and Chamaram(1980).The body of music director Johnson who died at a hospital in Chennai on Thursday, was brought to Kochi by a Jet Airways flight on Friday, 19th August evening. Led by the Thrissur deputy Collector E.V Susheela, a team of government officials received the body at the air port. Film director Sibi Malayil, producer Siyadh Kokker, writer Reghunath paleri, and actor Jayaraj Warrier were present on the occasion. The body was later taken to Nellikkunnu in Thrissur, his native place. The body of music director Johnson laid to rest at the Nellikkunnu St. Sebastian Church cemetry on aturday at 3 p.m. He had been a singer in the choir of the church. The body would be kept at the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi's K.T Mohammed Memorial regional theatre from 10 am to 12 noon.He collapsed in the bathroom in his residence in Chenai and died while being taken to the hospital on Thursday,18th August,2011. Various political parties and cultural organisations condoled the death of the music composerChief Minister Oommen Chandy expressed shock and sorrow at the passing away of the music director.Kottarakara based Kurakar Cultural Forum(കുരാക്കാര് ഫോറം) arranged a condolence meeting at
Prof. John Kurakar
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