Salim-Javed Reunite on Common Ground
- R. M. Vijayakar, Special to India-West
- Apr 05, 2012
MUMBAI, India
Ever since they split in the early ‘80s, Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar have not been on the best of terms. Today, a mellower Salim Khan admits he could have controlled his temper at the anger he justifiably felt when his ex-partner decided to part ways one fine day.
However, much water has flown under the bridge and for many years now, Salim and Javed have maintained courtesy and there are a lot of goodwill gestures happening from both sides, including their respective children who had once played with each other as kids. Even as rumors abound about Salman Khan signing a Farhan Akhtar film that obviously will also have lyrics by Javed Akhtar, S and J have been reunited in a rare case of consensus over Amit Mehra’s (son of Prakash Mehra) remake of their 1973 cult film “Zanjeer.”
It was Khan who first contacted Akhtar after the announcement.
“He too feels that our stand on the issue is very strong and he plans to bring it up in Delhi shortly,” said Khan.
Akhtar is spearheading the fight against vested interests for bringing in the Copyright Amendment Act, which has been on the anvil for many years now since the bill was passed in 2010 in Parliament, but is facing an uphill task because of the lobbies arraigned against bringing Indian copyright laws up to international norms not just on paper but also in practice.
“No one bothered to talk to us, and I am the last person to take to legal recourse of the courts, which we will do only if they do not sit across the table and give us our due,” Khan told India-West. ”Zanjeer” not only was our first solo complete script as Salim-Javed but the film that launched Prakash Mehra Productions and was also Amitabh Bachchan’s and our ticket to big-time, he added.
“Tell me, are any of the big names being repeated in the film? What are being repeated are the story and the essence of the script, which belongs to Salim-Javed, not to the late Prakash Mehra! That is what they want to remake, right?” he asked.
Akhtar added that there is a moral issue beyond the legal ones, too.
“Creative rights are not like buying property. It is our moral right to be informed,” he said. He added that as per copyright laws that already exist, the original creators have to give permission to even make changes in their scripts. This right is not transferable and cannot be stolen either.
“Can I buy a Husain painting for two crore and then add a moustache or add my own paragraph to a Tagore story?” Akhtar asked when speaking to Bombay Times.
Khan also pointed out to this reporter that the new film is being made in two or possibly three languages as it stars Ram Charan Teja, Chiranjeevi’s son, in Amitabh Bachchan’s role.
“They are making the film as a business proposition and will be selling satellite, home video, overseas and all other rights, that too in more than one language. We will not mind coming on board to help write the new film or make suggestions, though ‘Zanjeer’ was such a complete and perfect script that all that was needed was to direct actors and shoot! But when we sold it to Prakash Mehra who paid us Rs. 55,000 each, it was for a film to be made once, not more than once. Writers in this country are always sidelined, and our move will also help writers whose films will be remade in the future.”
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