Aamir Khan quits from HRD panel on Copyright Act

Warning: mysql_query(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in /home/musicma/public_html/display_single_item.php on line 155 Warning: mysql_fetch_array(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/musicma/public_html/display_single_item.php on line 156 Aamir Khan is in news again, this time round, not for his reel-life, but for his real life. The news that has taken the whole of the media world is that of a heated altercation between him and the veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar. According to Bollywood Hungama's confirmed sources, the story goes, "In the said meeting, one of the things that came up was a partnership between the creative people and the producers. And one of the key issues that were discussed was the royalty on songs. At one point of time, Aamir pointed out that in the marketing of a song in Bollywood, there's a lot of contribution from other people, like the actor and others. So, how do we divide the royalties between the lyricists, the music composers and all the other people who also contribute towards the making of the song. And the point that Javed Akhtar was trying to make was that the other people may or may not be the contributors to the song, but the lyricists and the music composers' contribution is primary to the song. And in the due course, they both brought up examples from their own films. The overall discussion was heated." Apparently, if the reports are to be believed, then, it was Aamir's remarks which angered Javed Akhtar who said that the song 'Papa Kehte Hain' became a hit despite the fact that Aamir was not a star at that time. The panel also includes Javed Akhtar, Boney Kapoor, Mukesh Bhatt, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vishal Dadlani, Prasoon Joshi, Anjum Rajabli, Madhu Manthena and Bhushan Kumar. As a result of all this, Aamir has resigned from the 10-member committee formed by the government to look into the proposed amendments to the Copyright Act. In his letter to the HRD minister Kapil Sibal, Aamir reasoned out the following: 'I would like to bring to your notice a number of articles which appeared in the media in the past few days. Sir, it seems to me that there is an attempt by certain people to attack me in public by printing lies about me, thereby turning the attention away from a genuine debate about copyright issues. I am grateful to you for inviting me to be part of a committee to discuss the various issues regarding amendments to the Copyright Act. However in light of these public attacks on me I don't think I am comfortable to be part of this committee. Sir, I take great pride in my honesty and integrity, and attach an enormous amount of value to my sense of justice and fair play. Monetary achievements have never excited me. If they had, I would have acted in many more than one film a year, thereby being financially much richer than I currently am. Had I been driven by monetary achievements I would not have produced films that challenge the mainstream and break new ground, films like Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par and PeepliLIVE, that most producers would hesitate to produce. I believe that what I have earned is the love and respect of my colleagues and my audience. And this I have done through my work and through the manner in which I work. This is why such public attacks are most damaging to me emotionally and leave me crippled. In the past 26 years of my involvement with the film industry I may have made mistakes, but never have I knowingly been dishonest or unfair in my dealings, whether as an assistant director, actor, producer or director. Therefore I request you to accept my resignation from this committee and please appoint another person in my place. I believe that amendments to the Copyright Act are long overdue and I am so happy that a person like you is spearheading this movement. I believe that the changes that you are bringing about in the sphere of education are so dynamic, progressive and positive, that I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that you will do the same in the field of copyright.' Official statement from HRD minister on this matter is awaited.