Johnny (2003 film)
Johnny is a 2003 Indian Telugu-language martial-arts film written and directed by Pawan Kalyan.[1][2][3] Produced by Allu Aravind, the film starred Pawan Kalyan in the title role, while Renu Desai, Raghuvaran, and Raza Murad played pivotal roles. The film revolves around a martial arts coach who decides to use his skills to earn prize money in competitions required to save his wife suffering from blood cancer.
| Johnny | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Pawan Kalyan |
| Written by | Pawan Kalyan |
| Based on | Last Leaf by |
| Produced by | Allu Aravind |
| Starring | Pawan Kalyan Renu Desai Raghuvaran |
| Cinematography | Chota K. Naidu Shyam Palav |
| Edited by | Yusuf Khan |
| Music by | Ramana Gogula |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | K. A. D. Movies |
Release date |
|
Running time | 178 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Johnny was released on April 25, 2003, to mixed to mostly negative reviews. Pawan Kalyan's acting was praised but the film didn't do well at the box office becoming one of the disasters in the Telugu film industry.It gained cult status.[4][3] It also became the first-ever Telugu film to be released with over 250 prints worldwide including the United States.[5] The film was screened at the International Film Festival of India.[1][2]
Plot
Johnny loses his mother when he was a kid. He runs away from his alcoholic father Ravishankar and dysfunctional family. Years later, from a small time club fighter, Johnny becomes a mixed martial arts coach. One day, a woman named Geetha lodges a police complaint on Johnny for beating up a man. Later, she discovers that it was a misunderstanding. Both become friends and eventually get married. After marriage, Johnny finds out that his wife is suffering from leukemia. He relocates to Mumbai to pay for her medical treatment and finds himself in dire need to pay for the medical expenses. While competing at an amateur kickboxing competition, Johnny is bought out by the organizer Tatya for a lump some offer to compete with two international martial artists. Johnny defeats them and earns a sum of ₹200,000 overnight, which he uses for Geeta's treatment.
Cast
- Pawan Kalyan as Johnny Damle
- Panja Vaisshnav Tej as Young Johnny
- Renu Desai as Geetanjali "Geeta"
- Geetha as Johnny's mother
- Raghuvaran as Ravishankar Damle, Johnny's father
- Lillete Dubey as Johnny's stepmother
- Ali as Pathan Babu Lal
- Raza Murad (credited as Raja Murad) as Tatya
- Brahmaji as S.I.
- Mallikarjuna Rao as Anthony
- MS Narayana as Lingam
- Surya as a goon who harasses women
- Satya Prakash as Karate Satti
- Harish Pai as Pandu
- Yaadi as Dayanand
- Aryan Khan (Parvez) as Nazir
- Shoaib as Laddu Yadav
- Usman as Mahesh
- Devi Charan as Chinna Ghouse
Soundtrack
The music for the film was composed by Ramana Gogula. The song "Ee Reyi Theyanadi" is based on the Chitti Chellelu (1970) song of the same name which itself was based on the French song L'amour est bleu (1967).[6]
| Johnny | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | January 1, 2003[7] | |||
| Recorded | 2002 | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 30:33 | |||
| Label | Aditya Music | |||
| Ramana Gogula chronology | ||||
| ||||
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Go Johnny" | Ramana Gogula | 1:21 |
| 2. | "Dojo Music" | Instrumental | 3:42 |
| 3. | "Nuvvu Saara" | Pawan Kalyan | 1:57 |
| 4. | "Ravoyi Maa Country Ki" | Pawan Kalyan | 2:00 |
| 5. | "Dharmardha Kamamulalona" | Rajesh | 1:03 |
| 6. | "Cool and Lovely" | Ramana Gogula | 2:18 |
| 7. | "Naaraz Kaakuraa" | Ramana Gogula | 5:08 |
| 8. | "Ee Reyi Theyanadi" | Hariharan & Nanditha | 4:54 |
| 9. | "Ye Chota Nuvvuna" | Rajesh & Nanditha | 4:08 |
| 10. | "Naalo Nuvokasagami" | K. K. & Usha | 4:04 |
Distribution rights
Johnny worldwide distribution rights were sold for a record breaking amount of ₹8.1 crore.[8] Johnny was released in 325 Theaters worldwide with digital print quality.
References
- "Rebel without a pause". The Hindu. 11 January 2005.
- hyrjm (28 April 2003). "Tedious fare". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 July 2003.
- "Johnny comes to town". The Hindu. 18 April 2003.
- hysni (24 June 2003). "Breaking norms". The Hindu.
- "Johnny jamboree". The Hindu. 24 April 2003.
- Srinivasan, Karthik (28 August 2018). "How A 1967 Eurovision Song Was Ripped Off By A Pawan Kalyan Movie". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- "Johnny (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Ramana Gogula". iTunes. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- "Johnny sinks, but Pawan Kalyan remains afloat". rediff.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2011.