Music composer Aadesh Shrivastava says musicians' body owes him Rs 25 lakh

Composer Aadesh Shrivastava's troubles don't seem to end. First it was his health, now it's the Indian Performing Rights Society Ltd (IPRS) -- an organisation that protects the rights of music composers and lyricists -- that Shrivastava alleges, has not paid him his dues amounting to Rs 25 lakh.

The composer of songs like Gur Nalon Ishq Mitha and Gustakhiyaan, asked the IPRS for the money when he was undergoing treatment for cancer early this year. When they refused, Shrivastava borrowed money from friends and sold his Hummer to pay for chemotherapy sessions. In May, Shrivastava knocked on IPRS' door again.

Several musicians have allegedly written off their royalty rights for a one-time payment by the IPRS. However, 40 composers and lyricists refused to go on board and Shrivastava is one of them.

"This is nothing but dadagiri. Other musicians have signed a letter stating that the IPRS owes them nothing, and have been paid as a sign of 'goodwill'. Imagine signing off your rightful money and then getting it back as a favour! Some of us refused to sign the letter. Hence we're being denied our royalty money."

"They owe me close to Rs 25 lakh. I need that money because I've borrowed money from friends for my treatment and need to pay them back. I'm ready to fight for what is rightfully mine," said Shrivastava.

Chief Executive Officer of the IPRS Rakesh Nigam, said, "We're going by a 1993 MOU, which states that once the film producer sells the music rights, the copyright belongs to music companies. There's little that Aadesh Shrivastava or I can do about it. He must understand that we're going by the law."