Good Days Ahead For Writers! Filmmaker Ritesh Sidhwani & Others Welcome Screenwriters Association’s Pay Hike Proposal

The Screenwriters Association (SWA) has made a breakthrough in formulating a fair pay plan for writers, an initiative that has been welcomed by the industry.

Filmmaker Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment has signed on for the guidelines laid down by the SWA.

Rajabali, writer of movies like “Ghulam”, “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” and “Raajneeti” who has been lobbying for the rights of screenwriters for long, says the SWA has been pushing for a minimum basic contract (MBC) among film producers to ensure that writers get paid at least minimum wages.

“Generally, owing to historical conditions, barring for some top writers, screenwriting fees have been really low. Moreover, because of the hugely unequal bargaining power, writers have been unable to negotiate contracts that could offer them fair terms, based on the principle of mutuality. This has caused frustration and anguish in the screenwriting fraternity for a long time now,” Rajabali, who heads the SWA sub-committee on MBC – Films, told IANS.

He said three recent developments have created conditions for a change. “One, the film industry has realised that without a good script, there is no way in which they can make a good and/or a successful film. This has repeatedly been established, ad nauseam.

“Two, lots of new, young writers with talent and a brave voice have been writing some wonderful scripts, many of which have become films whose impact is attributable to the writing.

“And, three, the SWA, peopled by young energetic leaders, has been proactive about improving the calibre of writing and been hammering home the need to improve writers’ fees and the protection of their rights.”

A minimum basic contract was drafted some years ago for film, as well as television writers, and for lyricists. Negotiations had begun with the Film and TV Producers Guild, the Indian Film and TV Producers Council as well as some broadcasters. But for different reasons, they couldn’t reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Filmmaker Vipul Shah says he had initiated this as an understanding between the Writers’ Association and the Producers Guild of India to sign a contract along with Ashutosh Gowariker and Rajabali, but the Producers’ Guild backed out.