Chennai, Friday, August 19, 2011: National Film Award winner and noted music composer Johnson Master, succumbed to a cardiac arrest on Thursday night around 8: 30 pm. He was 58.

The last rites are expected to be performed at his home town Trichur on Friday.

Johnson won the National Film Award for Best Background Score for the films Ponthan Mada (1994) and Sukrutham (1995). Johnson is the only musician to get this rarely given award twice. He was the first Malayalee music composer to receive an award in the music category and is also the only Malayalee music director who received two national awards in the music category.

He has received three Kerala State Film Awards for Best Music Director, for the films Ormakkayi (1982), Vadakkunokkiyantram and Mazhavil Kavadi (1989), and Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu (1999).

(News agency)