Mumbai: Nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar has lent her support to the ace lyricist Javed Akhtar in his fight to secure royalty rights for singers and lyricists.
In 1960s, the legend had fought for musician’s royalty rights but failed to amend the copyright act due to lack of support from music industry. Speaking about the ongoing royalty issue, Mangeshkar said, “I`m lending 110 percent support to Javed Saab, but my only fear is, how will he cope with all the backlash coming his way from producers and music companies who are very angry and upset? I fought for singer’s royalty in the 1960s. I had even stopped recording songs at that time while other singers who didn`t support my cause continued to record. My mission collapsed. My colleagues didn`t get the point. If a songwriter like Javed Saab had spoken up alongside me in the 1960s, a change in copyright rules would have occurred long back. Javed Saab is fighting a much wider battle. Singers and other musicians often die in penury.”
The singer who has been in industry for 69 years states that she is being deprived of her rightful royalties. “The music company Saregama HMV has nearly all my songs. They are putting my songs in various compilations of Naushad, Salil Chowdhary, Bappi Lahiri etcetera. What do I get from this? I don`t get any royalty. Now there is internet and the MP3 format. On top of that, the serials on television play my songs. It`s the music company that gives them permission to play my songs. Is that correct? There`s a popular serial `Bade Achche Lagte Hain`. Even the title of the serial is from a popular song by Amit Kumar,” Mangeshkar told to an agency.
Raising a question on the infringement practices taking place in music industry, the melody queen alleged, “Javed Saab is fighting a brave battle. But the time to fight battles for film music is gone. Today, I see my songs being sung on television by other singers. Is there any way of stopping such practices? However what Javed Saab is doing is justified. But even if the amendment becomes a law, how will the music companies be controlled.”
Overwhelmed with the support, Javed Aktar expressed, “What Lataji fought to achieve in the 1960s has now come to fruition. She feels she should have spoken up in parliament about the issue. But I say, she is the queen and it is up to us, her followers, to ensure her dream is fulfilled. What more could I want? We`ve fulfilled what Lataji had set out to do for musicians 50 years ago..”
” When I hear the new version of `Mera lal dupatta mal-mal ka’, I feel like crying. If there are people who feel this kind of remix invites youngsters to listen to the classics, then by the same logic strobe lights should be added to the Taj Mahal during weekends so that youngsters can go and dance in the moonlight. This is absurd logic. Now they won`t be able to make these additions without the singer`s permission,” Javed added.
Renowned B-Town musicians and artistes like Sonu Niigaam, Kailash Kher, Shabana Azmi and Rohit Roy have taken on social media platform and applauded Akhtar for his efforts in getting copyright amendment measures.
Kailash Kher tweeted on his account, “Javed Akhtar is a real hero for fighting for all creative people, and we are blessed to see the change and people behind it. Finally copyright will be defined in our country in real now. Congratulations to all intellectual Property owners, finally you are protected. Saw Javed Akhtar’s speech at Rajya Sabha, I feel like if our country has Music Ministry ever in future than he should be the Music Minister. Javed Saheb May Supreme Force Bless you for being what you are”
Sonu Niigam backed the fight tweeting, “Copyright act passed by the Rajyasabha. For not just the composers and lyrics writer but singers too. Congratulations. Kudos @Javedakhtarjadu.”
Akhtar’s wife Shaban Azmi tweeted, “Hurrah Copyright Amendment Bill passed in Rajya Sabha. Javed’s historic moment to give lyricists, composers 12 percent of their rightful share.”
Ehsaan Noorani of the famous trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy tweeted “@Javedakhtarjadu stellar speech in the RS! Many Congratulations on the bill being passed.”
Actress Jaya Bachchan also spoke in support of the bill’s amendments at the Rajya Sabha.