Artists must get royalty for repeat telecast of work: Shailesh Lodha

Renowned actor, comedian, writer and poet, Shailesh Lodha, famous for playing the role of Taarak Mehta in the longest running sitcom, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has said that TV channels must pay royalty to artists  for repeat telecast of their work. In a live conversation with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now, Lodha has said that TV industry pays on per day basis and if an artists work is  repeated again and again they must get royalty for their work. ‘‘Unlike the western nations which are evolved and progressed, no royalty is  given to artists for repeat telecasts. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR’s) should come out with solutions for such issues and the channels must consider this and evolve a system... if a system was in place... lockdown would not have impacted artists the way it did.” The actor  said that it was because of repeat telecasts that TV  consumption increased. “It is only during the lockdown that the channels did not earn revenues which otherwise would not have happened” he said. Responding to question on how allied activities like appearances and brand endorsements  have been impacted due to the new normal of virtual and online appearances and when the revival could  happen Lodha said that for a performer, interaction and appreciation from live audience is crucial and important. “It has become a buyer’s market now when both income and satisfaction level  has decreased”, he said.