The Bihar Government has refuted the allegations of the noted poet, lyricist and producer, Shailendra’s son, Dinesh Shankar Shailendra that it has violated Copyright Act by screening a film, Teesri Kasam, to promote its rural development programme.
Director of the State Information and Public Relations Department, Durgesh Nandan told The Pioneer that the Government had purchased the print of Teesri Kasam in 1979 by paying `9,360 to the UK Films, Bombay. He also provided the bill number of the transaction to buttress his claim.
Besides the print of Teesri Kasam, the State Information and Public Relations Department had purchased prints of 61 films including megabusters like Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Pakeezha and Gandhi for screening them for various purposes.
He argued that Dinesh Shankar Shailendra who had sent an email to the Government, expressing his objection to the screening will be reasonably satisfied once he knows all the facts. The film was not screened for any commercial purpose and hence there is no question of infringement of the copyright.
The film was screened at 162 panchayats by downloading it on 8-9 CDs with the purpose of disseminating information about various features of a programme being carried out by the State rural development department.
The film was screened from February 25 to March 15 at all these panchayats under the first phase of the awareness drive but the Government might be forced to screen some other film if the row persists, said an official of the department.