A music director creates the melody, while a background singer brings those melodies to life. The music company takes those melodies to the public at large. And the public hum along or move it to trash can. So, who owns the melody: Is it the creator? Or, the person who gives life to it? Or, the company, which markets the melody? Or, the public, who decide on the melody-ness of it. Each of them have their part to play in the life cycle of the melody, if I can say so.
The recent controversy between music director, Ilayaraja, and singer, SP Balasubramaniam or SPB, relates to creator claiming rights to the melody. Ilayaraja has sent out a legal notice restricting SPB from singing his compositions in a concert. As things stand today, there is no “legal” outcome, other than the fact the SPB has vowed not to sing Ilayaraja’s compositions at a concert.
A true loss to music lovers, in general, and fans of Ilayaraja and SPB, in particular. We, a group of friends, had met to celebrate one of them getting a patent. And we were discussing the Ilayaraja and SBP controversy.
What an irony!!! Continue reading No music to ears
oye, watch and learn 