December 27, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): This issue of the amendment of the Copyright Act has made many headlines and raised many eyebrows. It has become a topic of never ending discussion and is being dubbed as the factor that has divided B-town. Its like a one man film with Javed Akhtar as its hero and the story shows the modest and humble writers pitted against the Mercedes-riding producers. What Akhtar is fighting for is his due for helping the producer get his Mercedes.

The Film Federation of India (FFI) has declared that they will ban the veteran writer Javed Akhtar. According to Ravi Kottarakara, its Vice President, the industry has refused to work with Akhtar as he did not understand the problems of the producers and has gone against them for the Copyright Bill Amendment.

The Bill in question was passed in the first half of this year. The new Copyright Act demands a share to be paid to the songwriters and lyricist when their music is played outside the film. This has annoyed the film producers to such an extent that they have called for a strike on January 6, 2011. Pahlaj Nihalani, a senior producer, has confirmed that no film unit will shoot on January 6. He is of the opinion that the music of only 10 percent of the movies sell in Bollywood, so it is unfair to make every music-related individual a shareholder of the royalty. Backed by his fellow producers, Nihalani said that the Indian Government does not favor the film industry and so Javed Akhtar is getting the support.

Akhtar, on the other end, feels what they have demanded is justified and ethical. Everywhere, except India, musicians get royalty not only for their music but also for their background score. He hopes for the Bill, which is currently with the Standing Committee of the Parliament, to be passed in February with the required amendments.

Money definitely plays the sweetest music!

--Sampurn Wire