‘Thank-you for the music’

Not just producers, but also music companies think that lyricists, singers and music directors have no business demanding a 50-50 share on their creative work. Aamir Khan, as a producer, had brought the fight into the open when he clashed with Javed Akhtar, as a lyricist, over royalty issues. It was his contention that lyricists don’t contribute as much towards the success of a song as superstars do to make the song a hit. Javed cleverly asked, “Your first big song was Papa Kehte Hain in QSQT. Did it make you a star or did you make that song run?” To which Aamir, who was appointed on the government’s panel toamend the Copyright Bill, resigned in a huff. Music company owner and producerBhushan Kumar contended hotly, “It’s not fair when these lyricists,singers and music directors demand a royalty after the entire cost of the songis borne by the producer. If they want a share in the profits, they should alsobear the losses that the producer suffers when the film flops.” To which,Javed clarified that a share in the profits of the film wasn’t thedemand... but a royalty for when the song is used as mobile ringtones, played onradio or shown on TV. “They make us sign contracts that irrevocably andunconditionally waive all rights including rights that might be available to thelyricist under the Copyright Act, 1957,” he complained. But Bhushan arguedthat musicians like Shankar, Ehsan, Loy, Pritam and others make crores doingprivate stage shows in which they perform film songs over which producers haveno control. Javed retaliated, “Of course, a certain percentage goes to thePPL (the Phonographic Performance Pvt Ltd) when the singers do live shows. Theseproducers and music directors want it all, they don’t want us to enjoyanything.” And Bollywood continues to be split over the issue. A worriedMahesh Bhatt said, “Our family is divided right now and a divided housecan hardly negotiate.” Javed demanded, “Which family is he referringto? Where one member takes away everything and the other has to work like abonded labourer? Mahesh is a human rights activist, but when human rights issuesarise within his family, he refuses to open the door.” Follow us on Twitter for more stories