Lyricists emphasize the vital role of music in cinema and advocate for copyright protection

Kathmandu. Senior lyricist Anand Adhikari has described songs as the 'soul' of a film. "If the story of a film is the body, then the song is its soul," he said. "Songs serve to convey human emotions and sentiments that visuals alone cannot express to the audience's heart." He also noted that the status of songs is declining with the advancement of technology.

Organized by the Lyricists Association of Nepal and the Film Development Board, a workshop titled 'The Role of Songs in Cinema and the Rights of Lyricists' held intensive discussions on the importance of songs in films, their historical aspects, and the copyright of lyricists.

At the event, Suresh Adhikari, President of the Music Royalty Collection Society, asserted that the lyricist is the primary creator, performer, and producer. He stated, "A song cannot be remade or used publicly without the lyricist's permission. There is a global rule that the entire intellectual property of a song remains with the lyricist." He clarified that while producers are considered publishers when using songs in films, the ownership remains with the lyricist, and film songs must mandatorily pay royalties.

Basanta Bityasi Thapa, President of the Lyricists Association of Nepal, stated that the film industry should not view songs merely as a means of 'promotion' but should be sensitive toward the contributions, royalties, and copyrights of lyricists. He informed that the workshop was aimed at raising awareness about the history and importance of songs.

Senior singer Meera Rana remarked that a film without songs is weak, recalling that she began her musical journey through cinema. Similarly, senior poet and lyricist Shrawan Mukarung shared his experience that lyricists are still neglected regarding fair remuneration and contractual issues in films.

Former Minister and senior lyricist SP Koirala praised the work being done by the Lyricists Association for the welfare of creators, expressing his belief that such programs help establish the identity and rights of lyricists.

Film Development Board Chairman Dinesh DC also discussed the importance of songs during the program.