The role of a PRO is a very important part of the success of a film. PROs have the responsibility to ensure that the updates about the movies reach the fans on time.
Johnson is one among the many notable publicists in Kollywood. He has worked in more than 1,200 films in a career spanning more than 30 years.
He is a native of Nagercoil and is the seventh of the eight children of the John-Johanna couple. At an early age Johnson discontinued his polytechnic and joined work at his uncle’s shop in Mumbai.
Following this he returned to Tamil Nadu and started searching jobs as Assistant Director staying with his friends. It is during this time he became acquainted with people from the press.
M Rajaram who was a reporter in a leading Tamil daily became a close friend. During this time a movie titled ‘Oru Pudhiya Kadhai’ was directed by Rama Subbaiah and was bankrolled by M Rajaram.
Meena who was famous as a child artiste made her debut as heroine with this movie. Rajaram handed over the publicity work of the film to Johnson.
Since Meena was already famous as a child actor her picture became the cover photo of almost all major magazines. This came as a big turning point in Johnson’s career. People from the industry wanted to know who the publicist was.
Johnson has never shied away from trying new methods and strategies to promote a film. Johnson’s success mantra is that people should get interested in the movie right from the first look.
Taking something related to the movie and making it interesting and delivering it to the people is what he believes in.
Several leading stars were introduced in Kollywood because of Johnson and Nayanthara is one among them.
Johnson was the one who arranged the audition of Nayanthara for ‘Ayya’ starring Sarathkumar. He believes that PROs should update themselves according to the changing technologies.
Apart from being a PRO, Johnson with the help of his assistants Ajithkumar and Ajay Kumar also works as artiste manager for several celebrities.
By Naveen
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