Singer Chitra Singh was happy when the Enforcement Directorate raided the Mumbai offices of the country’s biggest music labels. These companies -- T-Series, YRF, Saregama -- have not paid royalties to music composers and lyricists for years. The fraud could amount to Rs 1,500-2,00 crore.
The widow of ghazal singer Jagjit Singh had filed an FIR with the Enforcement Directorate last December.
"I wasn't sure as nobody was helping me. It's been a tough fight for a single woman like me. But ED took up my case, thanks to a bunch of nice officers in Mumbai. Now I'm confident that the agency will take my case to its logical end and punish the guilty," Chitra told Mid-day
“All stakeholders were told that the composers and lyricists were paid royalty as per the rule, whereas the money collected for this purpose was parked with (recording) companies or individuals other than the people eligible for getting their dues,” said the Enforcement Directorate.
Hiding facts is a criminal offence.
Chitra has spoken about how people have taken advantage of her after her husband’s death. She has spoken about how there are events where homages to him are ticketed prorgammes, but no royalties are paid to her. People use Jagjit Singh's brand name and do not pay the royalty, she says.
Even her husband’s friends, she says, have not helped. They do not answer her calls, but still listen to Jagjit in their fancy cars, she says.
“I will fight it out and won’t give up till my last breath,” she says.
There are also legal issues related to the India Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) and Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL). These bodies are responsible for paying royalties to the legal heirs of deceased members and are copyright societies which issue licences for public performances.
Also Read: I Can’t Imagine a Life Without Music: Vidya Shah
Picture Credit: Chitra and Jagjit Singh wordpress
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