Shameful Commercial Exploitation Of 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon'

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A video of the song was shot for a compilation DVD titled 'Lata Mangeshkar Forever 1' , available on Yash Raj's official site and marketed by Yash Raj Films Home Entertainment . In India , the DVD cannot be bought ,as Yash Raj does not possess the right to sell the DVD in India .

In a letter written to late Kavi Pradeep's( who wrote the song) daughter Mitul , Yash Raj Films states that the video was created by their now defunct sister concern Metavision on an assignment basis with Saregama India Ltd. ( now HMV Saregama ) .

"My father hasn't even been given credit for the lyrics ," says Mitul who has demanded a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh from both companies , through a notice issued by the Film Writers Association ( FWA) .

In reply to a request to attend a meeting last month , HMV Saregama sent a note to FWA , stating that they are the owners of the copyright of all musical and lyrical work of 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon' . Both the record company and Yash Raj Films failed to produce documentary proof to clarify the copyright.

It is indeed a shameful commercial exploitation of a legendary patriotic song by poet-lyricist late Kavi Pradeep , whose 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon' brought tears to the eyes of the country’s first Prime Minister , Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, in the early 60s , in the wake of the Chinese aggression when the nightingale had rendered it .

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