Preserving Zubeen Garg’s Legacy Through Music Collection
In Guwahati, Assam, a unique initiative is underway to honor the legacy of Zubeen Garg, a celebrated Indian singer-songwriter who passed away in September 2023. Vishal Kalita, a dedicated music collector, has transformed his home into a museum showcasing an extensive archive of Garg’s work, alongside a vast collection of music cassettes and CDs. This endeavor not only pays tribute to Garg’s contributions to music but also aims to address the complex issues surrounding music ownership and royalties.
A Collector’s Journey
Vishal Kalita, 30, has spent the last decade amassing a remarkable collection of music, including 38,000 songs by Zubeen Garg. His passion for preserving music history has led him to travel across India, collecting obsolete tapes and rare recordings. Recently, he opened his collection to the public, allowing fans to experience the rich tapestry of Garg’s musical journey, which spans Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi cinema.
Garg, known for his iconic 2006 hit “Ya Ali” from the film *Gangster*, left a profound impact on the Indian music scene. Just days before his tragic death in a scuba diving accident in Singapore, Garg visited Kalita’s home and expressed nostalgia for his “long-forgotten” creations. This poignant moment has fueled Kalita’s commitment to ensuring that Garg’s music remains accessible to future generations.
The Challenge of Music Ownership
Despite the passion behind Kalita’s efforts, significant challenges lie ahead. The ownership of Garg’s music is fragmented among various producers, distributors, and labels, complicating efforts to upload his songs online due to copyright concerns. This issue is not unique to Garg; it reflects a broader dilemma in the global music industry, where artists often struggle to reclaim their work.
In India, the Copyright Act of 1957 creates a complex web of rights, assigning separate copyrights for lyrics, musical compositions, and sound recordings. While lyricists and composers initially own the rights, producers often claim ownership of the sound recordings. This has led to difficulties in tracking royalties, especially as the industry increasingly shifts towards digital platforms.
After Garg’s passing, fans were dismayed to find his popular song “Mayabini Ratir Bukut” missing from streaming services, removed due to licensing disputes. Filmmaker and Garg’s friend, Manas Barua, highlighted the challenges in tracing ownership for many of Garg’s songs, noting that hundreds remain contested or difficult to identify.
Efforts to Secure Rights
To address these challenges, Shyamantak Gautam, an associate of Garg, is compiling a comprehensive list of his songs, with over 1,033 already registered with the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS). Rakesh Nigam, CEO of IPRS, emphasizes the importance of protecting creators’ rights for 60 years after their death, especially in the context of digital complexities.
Bollywood singer Shaan has praised Kalita’s initiative, acknowledging the difficulty in tracking regional distributors but affirming the importance of preserving artists’ legacies. Garg’s situation mirrors that of other Indian music legends, such as SP Balasubrahmanyam and Lata Mangeshkar, who also faced ownership disputes.
Digitizing the Legacy
In a bid to ensure that Garg’s music endures, Kalita is exploring advanced technology from Japan to digitize rare tapes. His goal is to preserve these recordings in high quality, allowing Garg’s music to continue resonating with fans. “Zubeen Garg will live through his music. And, as his fan, that’s the least I can do for him,” Kalita states passionately.
FAQs
What is Vishal Kalita’s role in preserving Zubeen Garg’s music?
Vishal Kalita is a music collector who has amassed a significant archive of Zubeen Garg’s songs and aims to digitize and make them accessible to the public while addressing copyright issues.
Why are some of Zubeen Garg’s songs missing from streaming platforms?
Many of Garg’s songs have been removed from streaming services due to complex licensing issues and disputes over ownership rights among producers and distributors.
How does India’s Copyright Act affect music ownership?
India’s Copyright Act assigns separate rights for lyrics, compositions, and recordings, leading to a complicated ownership landscape that often favors producers over artists.
Conclusion
The efforts to preserve Zubeen Garg’s musical legacy highlight the ongoing challenges of music ownership in India. As Vishal Kalita works to digitize Garg’s extensive collection, the hope is that future generations will continue to appreciate and celebrate the artist’s contributions to music. The journey to secure fair royalties for Garg’s family remains a crucial aspect of this mission.
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