Bollywood screenwriters have begun speaking up in recent years to demand adequate remuneration and treatment. The Screenwriters Association (SWA), the authors’ labour organisation, gathered more than a hundred Bollywood writers for a meeting on December 7 to talk about their issues.
Prominent figures such as Sriram Raghavan (Andhadhun), Abbas Tyrewala (Pathaan), Sudeep Sharma (Pataal Lok), Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (Bareilly Ki Barfi), Sumit Aroraa (Jawan), Sujoy Ghosh (Kahaani), and others discussed the need for change in the situation. According to a statement from SWA’s official press release, “Complaints were mainly centred around how average remuneration is shrinking, credit is given at the discretion of producers, termination can be arbitrary, and how they are forced to indemnify producers if there is a socio-political backlash to the film.”
The declaration further said, “It was said in the meeting that toughly worded agreements force writers to waive their moral rights as well as their right to receive royalty, incidentally both of which have been guaranteed by Indian copyright law. The gathering pointed out that while beginners suffer the most, unfair contracts are the norm even for successful senior writers.”
The Contracts Committee Chairperson, Anjum Rajabali (Raajneeti), stated, “The time has come to say: Enough! Our work deserves its due commercial value, and the writer’s dignity. To get that, we have to break the existing mindset towards our profession.” The General Secretary of SWA, Zaman Habib (Ye Rishta Kya Kehlaata hai), stated: “A beginning has been made here. We shall push back as a united front to make our contracts fair and balanced. This meeting is the first step in that direction.”
Pubali Chaudhuri (Rock On!) greeted the meeting as a very significant step, while Abbas Tyrewala (War) praised it as a historic gathering. The Writers Guild of America, the SWA’s counterpart in Hollywood, made headlines lately for their 148-day strike that forced Hollywood to a halt and gave the writers a significant win.
