Lyricists-Composers Sign MoU For Fair Contracts, Vishal Bhardwaj Calls It 'Historic'
Indian lyricists and composers unite for fair treatment, securing contracts, credit, and compensation. SWA's Zama Habib and MCAI's Vishal Bhardwaj signed an MoU, representing 4,500 members.
In a groundbreaking push for change, lyricists and composers in India are uniting to demand fair treatment from producers and music labels. Their fight centers on securing proper contracts, rightful credit, and fair compensation—long-overdue reforms in the industry.
Screenwriters Association General Secretary Zama Habib and Music Composers Association of India President Vishal Bhardwaj took a major step toward industry reform by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration aims to strengthen ties between composers and lyricists, representing a collective force of nearly 4,500 members—2,500 from MCAI and over 2,000 lyricists from SWA.
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Bhardwaj termed the move “landmark and historic". “Composers and lyricists play a pivotal role in music. Without a composer, one can’t make a tune, and without a lyricist, a song can’t be made. For me they are ‘jism aur jaan’. It’s great that they are together," he told PTI.
He said it’s “important" for composers and lyricists to resolve larger issues pertaining to the music industry.
“It’s very important for the two to come together professionally. They’ve become a bigger force. Without them, the Indian film industry would not exist because Bollywood is nothing without music and songs. A lot of injustice has happened to both music directors and lyricists. Earlier, there was a royalty issue, which was a long battle spearheaded by Javed Akhtar sahab," the filmmaker-composer said.
Zama Habib emphasised that both SWA and MCAI are led by sensible individuals who recognise the pressing need to tackle these long-standing industry issues.
“The composers and lyricists have come together to announce that we are together now, and we are on the same page, and we will fight for our causes together whether it is credit or renumeration. This is the first step in that direction. The main thing is to let the producers and music companies know that there’s a partnership between us. We would collectively talk to them, we are hopeful it will be welcomed," the SWA general secretary told PTI.
The MoU recognises music directors and lyricists as co-authors in the creative process, ensuring they are both credited as primary artists. It also emphasizes that their contracts with producers should be separate, allowing them to independently negotiate their remuneration while streamlining their artistic collaboration and professional terms.
Well-known songwriter Raj Shekhar said the MoU signifies the unity between composers and lyricists. “This MoU is a milestone in creative collaboration. It is not about composers versus lyricists; we are a team, we are together, and we both create music together. We both are incomplete without each other. I spend more time with a music composer than my family. We are a natural alliance. With this MoU, there will be fair credit, remuneration, contracts and more transparency," Shekhar told PTI.
Music composer Milind of the Anand-Milind duo expressed his happiness over the MoU, which he believes is a fair deal for everyone in the music industry. “Earlier, music composers would get a budget and in that remuneration of singers and lyricists, and the charges of hiring a studio, etc, was all included. Today, because of the MoU, producers will deal directly with the composers and lyricists separately, so there will be transparency and a fair contract. It’s a fair deal for all. I’m glad this has happened now," Milind told PTI.
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