Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has drawn attention to the glaring gaps in India’s copyright and royalty framework for creative professionals. A vocal advocate for fair compensation in the music and film industry, Akhtar has consistently pushed for reforms that acknowledge the contributions of composers, writers, and singers. He cited the life of composer Khemchand Prakash to highlight the lack of financial security faced by the artistic community.Khemchand Prakash’s demise and his wife’s lifeKhemchand Prakash, known for launching the careers of icons such as Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, and Naushad, died at the age of 42—reportedly from liver cirrhosis—without ever reaping the rewards of his enduring legacy.
Akhtar recalled how Prakash had once stood firm in support of a young and inexperienced Lata Mangeshkar, backing her talent when others doubted her. Their partnership began with the film ‘Ziddi’, but it was the haunting melody of “Aayega Aane Wala” from Mahal (1949) that truly propelled Mangeshkar’s voice into the hearts of millions. Prakash did not live long enough to witness the song’s lasting impact.Speaking in the Rajya Sabha in 2012, Akhtar shared the heartbreaking aftermath of the composer’s death: “Ayega ek din, ayega. Bahut mashoor geet hai, 60 saal pehle likha gaya tha… This song was composed by Khemchand Prakash, a deeply admired musician of his time… When they tried to locate him to pay Rs 13,000 owed to him, it was found that his wife was begging in Malad. This is not surprising. There are many stories like this,” he stated.Javed about law protecting the rights of the vulnerableIn an old interview with The Times of India, Javed underlined the broader implications of the issue. “The law is supposed to protect the rights of the vulnerable. Nobody cares for the families of creators of evergreen songs — the story of Khemchand Prakash, a singer of the golden era who composed songs like ‘Aayega Aane Wala’, is a case in point. Some time ago, his wife was found begging at Mumbai’s Malad station. If Prakash’s family had received adequate royalty from his music, it would not have met such a fate.”
