* Cine Employees, Writers, Composers, Cine Singers and Singers Associations condemn FFI ban on Javed Akhtar

* Appeal to govt to enact law at the earliest

MUMBAI: Five associations representing Cine employees, composers and film writers have strongly condemned the FFI (Film Federation Of India) decision to ban Javed Akhtar for being the crusader for the cause of copyrights of creators and artists....

Composer Raju Singh told RadioAndMusic.com,  Initially, we, the members of the five  Associations didn't consider it worth responding to, but now, at the persuasion of the press and  media, we wish to clarify our stance on the matter. Hence this signed statement....

The statement, signed by Dharmesh Tiwari  of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, Ravi Shankar Sharma of the Music Composers' Association of India, Jalees Sherwani of the Film Writers' Association of India, Alka Yagnik of the India Singers' Association of India and Himanshu Bhatt of the Cine Singers' Association of Mumbai, says all their members very strongly condemn this way of showing displeasure over a matter that is community-based. It is ridiculous that the producers should make this as a personal attack. If the Producers and Music Companies point of view has been considered by the Parliamentary Committee as unreasonable and unfair, why should they retaliate in such a way to ban a single Artist?... The statement further says, the FFI and its members… should ban all our members who are composers, because it is not only Javed Akhtar but all the artistes of India who share the same point of view....

The complete text of the statement reads: As we all know, the government is amending the Indian Copyright Act to make it in line with International Treaties as also to protect and give justice to Artists of Music who have been deprived of their rightful royalties for decades by Producers and Music Companies.

While the Producers and Music Companies do get their Copyrights, they have been forcefully taking away the Artists Royalties which legally belong to them.

In November, the Parliamentary Standing Committee, headed by Shri Oscar Fernandes, submitted its Report to the Parliament. But the producers seem to be very upset with the recommended changes to the Copyright Act, because the Producers and Music Companies will no more be able to hijack the Royalties that inherently and legally belonged to the composers and authors.

After meeting the concerned ministers and ministries, the Producers' Bodies have decided to strike work on Jan 6, 2011  Also, as the Producers hold Shri Javed Akhtar to be battling for the rights of the Composers and Authors responsible in getting the amendments in the Bill, their apex body - FFI has decided and declared to ban him from the industry!!!

We, the undersigned Associations very strongly condemn this way of showing displeasure over a matter that is community-based. It is ridiculous that the producers should make this as a personal attack. If the Producers and Music Companies point of view has been considered by the Parliamentary Committee as unreasonable and unfair, why should they retaliate in such a way to ban a single Artist.

If that is the case, we, the entire membership of all the Associations, would like to inform the FFI and its members that they should ban all our members who are composers, because it is not only Javed Akhtar but all the artistes of India who share the same point of view.

And, We would appeal to the Government of India to enact this Law at the earliest.... (See copy of signed statement here)

Ravi Shankar Sharma of the Music Composers' Association of India, It's a very immature way of trying to say something to the Government. If the Parliamentary Committee has termed the producer's point of view as unreasonable and unfair, the producer's Apex body responds by banning the person who is leading the artists' cause?!"

Dharmesh Tiwari, President Federation of Western India Cine Employees, said, If the producers are going to resort to banning people who have taken up the just cause of copyright, then I would request them to ban all artists and workers because all of us share the same view point with respect to copyright royalties....

Saying it is totally irresponsible of the producers' body to do such a thing,... Alka Yagnik, President of Singers Association of India, said, It would mean that if one wants to fight for his rights, he will be boycotted and left with no work!"

Expressing shock, Film Writers Association President Jalees Sherwani said, This is total dadagiri. It reflects the �zamindar' attitude of the producers. If you stand up against them, they would ensure that you die hungry. If they can do this to a legend like Javed Akhtar, imagine what would happen to any other writer if he asked for his royalties. This is unacceptable!...

Himanshu Bhatt, General Secretary of Cine Singers Association said, Banning is totally unacceptable. What's the crime in asking for one's royalties? Why do producers want to target individuals? Why can't they talk to the Government and convince them about the validity of their point of view? This is very unprofessional and we condemn it very strongly....