Om Shanti Om music in piracy grip

MUMBAI: The most expensive audio deal of Bollywood, between music major T-Series and Shah Rukh Khan for the latter's new movie Om Shanti Om, has succumbed to pirates even as the music was made available in stores today (15 September, 2007).

When contacted by Businessofcinema.com, T-Series Public Performance License (PPL) president M M Satish said, "Yes, I am aware that the pirated songs are already available online but unfortunately I cannot stop it."

Satish further adds, "The demand for Om Shanti Om music is high, therefore the piracy levels will also be high. Just that way T-Series has invested so much money in buying the audio rights, the pirates too have invested big money."

Director Farah Khan too is aware of the music piracy. She says, "It is disgusting. T-Series also knows about it and they should be doing something about it."

What's more, the director helplessly adds, "I also know that when my movie releases on 9 November, the pirated copies will be out on that day itself. But we really cannot do anything about it and the government also doesn't help us."

When queried whether any action is being taken against these pirates, Satish says, "I have met DCP Sanjay Mohite from the Social Service Branch with regard to this but due to the ongoing Ganpati festival there is very little he can do about this at the moment."

Pointing to the root cause of this menace, both Satish and Farah Khan are of the opinion that since the CDs are delivered to the distributors three - four days in advance and are also dispatched overseas two - three days in advance, that apparently must be the source of the piracy.

At the time of filing this story Shah Rukh Khan, who is currently in Dubai, was not available for comment. Khan is in Dubai for an announcement regarding the film's music album being made available for full downloads on mobile handsets and digital media across 23 countries including the UK, US, UAE, India, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

On a concluding note Farah Khan adds, "The audio CD is not very expensive. It only costs Rs 110 and comes with an autographed SRK poster, Om Shanti Om booklet and photographs. No one can get a package like this at such a cheap rate."

Source: BusinessCinema