Shocking! Amitabh Bachchan Doesn't Get His Father's Property!

Amitabh Bachchan has every right to be angry. The 75 year old superstar is likely to lose the exclusive copyright to his late father Harivansh Rai Bachchan's popular literary work. Copyright Act, 1957 to be blamed for this sorry occurrence. It so happened that 'Term of Copyright in Posthumous Work' clause allows the exclusive rights to heirs of original literary work for 60 years after the death of the writer. It will be pertinent to note that the late Harivansh Rai Bachchan's popular work includes Agnipath, Ruke Na Tu, Madhushala, Himmat Karne Walon Ki Haar Nahi Hoti among others.

Big B chose his widely followed blog to express his views on the subject matter. "Written copyright and whatever else in the realm, lives 60 years after the passing with the elements of them that be rightful. Really? So, who designed 60 years? Why 60 why not 61, or why not perpetuity! Inheritors that come as natural heirs be natural right holders of creative copyright...right... but after 60 years it's natural inheritors, after the passing, the heirs become the public at large .. ehh ...?" questions Bachchan.

The supersatr further chose to  "Who did this intellectual legality, at what context. I believe it initiated in 1957 or so... and (I) am angered by its audacity. So, what gets left as natural heir by father Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan, after his passing passed 60 years, belongs no longer to his domain or possessive copyright as willed...but becomes for the entire Universe to tread, scratch, mutilate, use in commercial consideration on their own creative discretion ??? Rubbish!"

Amitabh Bachchan used some strong words to vent out his anger and wrote,

"I oppose, disagree, lament, dispute, be in variance of, in vehement loud screams of voice. Ever. My inheritance be mine... His writings be his, his heir be me, his writings be mine... Mine. I shall not and will not allow its dilution to the general public. I bring my inherited aesthetics to its creativity... It may be the worst ever... But it is my copyright. Another after the passage of the time recorded will use and design and perform and monetise and make diversions to it at will. Because...it now belongs to the public ..???? Never Never Never...!!!!"

Is Mr Bachchan likely to take the legal course and fight a battle to get the ownership of the literary work of his father.  "Why was not William 'Bill' Shakespeare made aware of copyright; why not Mr Beethoven or Messrs Chopin and Tchaikovsky, or closer home Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore 'Thakur'. Had they known or made to know, they may never have wished for any other, but their progeny of generations to come ... and because no record has been kept of such. There is a loss of opportunity for them that were rightful heirs of them.!! I fight for it." he concludes.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2018 10:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).