Filmmakers and authors get vocal about Aamir-Bhagat rift

The rift between Chetan Bhagat and the makers of Aamir Khan’s new movie is stirring up a hornet’s nest in creative circles. Filmmakers and authors get vocal…

Subhash Ghai, filmmaker: When Chetan has been paid for his work and due credit is also given to him as the story is based on Five Point Someone, I don’t see any reason why he should come out after the film’s release to vent his anger on not getting his due credit. I feel the writers of 3 Idiots have written a fresh story so they can take credit for it. However, the concept is definitely Chetan’s and he has got his due. There is no copyright on concept but if his work was completely lifted and he was not given credit for the story, that would have been a crime.

Sarnath Banerjee, author: I think both Chetan and the filmmakers have had a pact. It is nothing but a PR exercise. All the public flak is only adding to the publicity. Given today’s situations, both the filmmaker and the author need to be generous enough with their creations. We don’t want to see personal feuds becoming national headlines.

Kabir Khan, filmmaker: I have read the book and there is hardly any similarity in the movie. The author was kept in the know from the very beginning and was duly compensated. If he would have raised an objection in the beginning that he would not allow any changes to his book even in the movie, that would have been acceptable. But after everything has been done and the movie has also released for around a week, there was no need for this controversy.

Advaita Kala, author: I am not familiar with the contractual details of the issue, but if movie rights for the book have been bought by the producer then it is not a copyright violation. The issue as I understand it is between story and screenplay. Every time one signs a contract (as I did for my film Anjaana Anjaani), the credit is clearly mentioned and highlighted. If there is an issue with the credit, it can be addressed at that point.

Abhishek Kapoor, filmmaker: When a concept is taken from a writer, I feel the writer should get credit for even the story. Just mere changes for screenplay don’t mean someone has written a completely new story. I feel Chetan should have been credited as saying that the film is based on his book — crediting someone else for the story only undermines his stature as a writer.

Nasreen Munni Kabir, writer: Everything now is contractually bound and I don’t think Vidhu Vinod would do anything to violate it. Whenever a film is adapted or inspired from a book, globally writers and filmmakers have fought because the writer feels he has not got his due or his book was badly adapted into a movie.

What’s the controversy?
Novelist Chetan Bhagat is furious over not being credited as the writer of the original story in the inspired film 3 Idiots. The movie hails Abhijat Joshi and Rajkumar Hirani as the writers of the story and later in the credit title mentions Chetan’s name saying the movie is based on his book.

(With inputs by Aveek Bhowmik and Sujata Chakrabarti)