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Johnny (2003 film)

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2003 film by Pawan Kalyan

Johnny
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPawan Kalyan
Written byPawan Kalyan
Based on"The Last Leaf"
by
Produced byAllu Aravind
StarringPawan Kalyan
Renu Desai
Raghuvaran
CinematographyChota K. Naidu
Shyam Palav
Edited byYusuf Khan
Music byRamana Gogula
Production
company		Geetha Arts
Distributed byK. A. D. Movies
Release date
  • 25 April 2003 (2003-04-25)
Running time178 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Johnny is a 2003 Indian Telugu-language martial arts film written and directed by Pawan Kalyan. 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.

The theatrical distribution rights of Johnny were sold for over ₹21 crore, the highest price ever for a Telugu film at the time. The film was released on April 25, 2003. It also became the first-ever Telugu film to be released with over 250 prints worldwide including the United States. It became the first flop in Pawan Kalyan's career after six consecutive hits. The film was acknowledged for its stylish presentation and fight sequences, but the writing was criticised. Despite the film's commercial failure, its action choreography is considered to have set new standards in Telugu cinema reflecting a more grounded and believable approach to action. The film was screened at the International Film Festival of India.

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 sum 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

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). A critic from Idlebrain.com in an audio review, "Overall, this album with 10 numbers in it calls in for a decent hearing".

Johnny
Soundtrack album by Ramana Gogula
ReleasedJanuary 1, 2003
Recorded2002
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length30:33
LabelAditya Music
Ramana Gogula chronology
Mounamelanoyi
(2002) 		Johnny
(2003) 		Relax
(2005)
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Go Johnny"Ramana GogulaRamana Gogula1:21
2."Dojo Music"—Instrumental3:42
3."Nuvvu Saara"MasterjiPawan Kalyan1:57
4."Ravoyi Maa Country Ki"MasterjiPawan Kalyan2:00
5."Dharmardha Kamamulalona"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryRajesh1:03
6."Cool and Lovely"Ramana GogulaRamana Gogula2:18
7."Naaraz Kaakuraa"MasterjiRamana Gogula5:08
8."Ee Reyi Theyanadi"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryHariharan & Nanditha4:54
9."Ye Chota Nuvvuna"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryRajesh & Nanditha4:08
10."Naalo Nuvokasagami"ChandraboseK. K. & Usha4:04
Total length:30:35

Release

Johnny's worldwide distribution rights were sold for a record breaking amount of over ₹21 crore, the highest price ever for a Telugu film at the time surpassing the previous record of Chennakesava Reddy (2002), which was sold for ₹19.5 crore. It was sold for ₹7.5 crore in the Nizam region, ₹4.5 crore in Ceded and for ₹9 crore for the rest of Andhra Pradesh.

Johnny was released in over 310 theaters worldwide with digital print quality.

Reception

The film was released to negative reviews. Gudipoodi Srihari of The Hindu wrote that "There seems to be more eccentricity than sense in the film directed by Pavan Kalyan. He also plays the title role of Johnny". Jeevi of Idlebrain.com rated the film one-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that "One can watch this film with an academic interest to study how not to direct a film. This film has all style and no substance". A critic from Sify wrote that "On the whole Johnny lacks style, story or soul".

Legacy

In 2003, Pawan Kalyan's styling from the film became a trend, with Johnny T-shirts, bandanas, armbands, and caps becoming very popular. Johnny is noted for its realistic and innovative action sequences, which were praised for their authenticity and integration into the storyline. Despite the film's commercial failure, its action choreography set new standards in Telugu cinema reflecting a more grounded and believable approach to action. The film's failure led Kalyan to move to more conventional, larger-than-life roles, impacting the innovation in his action sequences in subsequent films.

References

  1. ^ "Movie Review - Johnny". Idlebrain.com. 25 April 2003. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  2. ^ Vijayalaxmi (23 April 2003). "Pawan Kalyan sets a record". Rediff.com. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. "Pawan Kalyan and Renu Desai's Johnny completes 17 Years today". The Times of India. 28 April 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 July 2024. Its most significant accomplishment was being the first Telugu movie to be released with over 250 prints worldwide, including the United States.
  4. ^ "Pawan Kalyan Birthday: As Actor Turns 48, Here are 5 of His Best Films". News18. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2024. Johnny became the first ever Telugu film to be released with over 250 prints worldwide including the United States. Johnny was screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
  5. ^ "Johnny sinks, but Pawan Kalyan remains afloat". Rediff.com. 15 May 2003. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Poor screenplay messed up Johnny : Pawan Kalyan". 123Telugu.com. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  7. ^ Padhi, Sandeep (23 May 2021). "The Action In Pawan Kalyan's Johnny". Film Companion. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  8. 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.
  9. Sunil, Sreya. "Audio review of Johnny - Hodgepodge of solos, duets and music bits". Idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2003. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  10. "Johnny (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Ramana Gogula". iTunes. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  11. "Simran to quit films?". Rediff.com. 28 April 2003. Retrieved 31 July 2024. After opening to a positive response in over 310 theatres, Johnny lost its magic on Friday night itself.
  12. Srihari, Gudipoodi (28 April 2003). "Tedious fare". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 July 2003.
  13. Moviebuzz. "Review: Johnny". Sify. Archived from the original on 25 January 2005.
  14. "Some 'power' dressing this!". The Times of India. 26 May 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

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