Aamir Khan and Javed Akhtar
Aamir Khan resigned from the 10 member panel set by the HRD Ministry to review the amendments proposed to the Copyright Act 1957. Aamir Khan was the only actor in the committee. Aamir Khan resigned after engaging in verbal duel with lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar. Both were attending panel’s first meeting on Monday. The amendments, talks about giving a share of royalty to lyricists and music directors to songs used in movies. Currently royalty goes to the film’s producers and the companies holding the music rights.
Javed and Aamir Khan indulged in verbal duel when Aamir Khan said, a lyricist does not contribute much to the success of a song. Aamir said, “The success of a song depends on the way it is picturised on a star.” Javed Akhtar’s repartee was, “Your first big song was Papa Kehte Hain. Did it make you a star or did you make that song run?”
A source said, “He (Aamir) looked long and hard at Javed saab for a while and then suddenly said that in any case the contribution of the writer was greater than the lyricist in terms of creative contribution to a film’s success. Javed saab flew off the handle.”
Jaaved Akhtar commented, “Good for Chetan Bhagat.” Chetan Bhagat was highly irritated with the team of 3 idiots as Bhagat complained that he was not given proper credit in the film as 3 idiots is based on his novel Five Point Someone. Aamir had backed his producer and director, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani respectively on this issue.
The source continued further, “The 3 Idiots controversy surrounding writer Chetan Bhagat is a touchy issue for Aamir. He was stung by Javed saab’s sudden attack and soon left the meeting. Today he has resigned.”
Aamir Khan has written in his resignation letter to Kapil Sibal,“I cannot make any meaningful contribution in this atmosphere. Aggression of this type leaves me feeling very disillusioned and sad and I am unable to function.”
Sibal expressed his views, “I would probably also have reacted in the same way in such a scenario.”
A new-age Bollywood composer also expressed his frustration, “The situation is so unfair that someone like A.R Rahman receives royalties (abroad) on a continuous basis for Slumdog Millionaire, but can never expect any royalty in India for his creations.”
“But the composers, when alive, or their families after their deaths, do not get a penny in royalty though their songs remain popular even today,” said the source.
Composer Anu Malik said, “Composers and lyricists have been the most exploited lot since this industry started in India over a 100 years ago. The creators are paid one-time by the producers who then sell the content to the music companies at a massive price. The music companies hold the copyrights, and use them time and again on various platforms to keep making money even after the composer/lyricist is long dead and gone. Be it remixes, usage on Internet, shows, clubs, pubs, mobile ringtone, television shows and what have you, the poor creator is left out altogether, though it is his music, his poetry, which is making the money.”
Apart from Khan and Akhtar, some other members on the HRD panel are producers Mukesh Bhatt, Boney Kapoor and Ramesh Sippy, T Series tycoon Bhushan Kumar, lyricist Prasoon Joshi and composer-filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj.
Image Source: santabanta.com
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