India’s Screenwriters Association & Composers Association Sign Fair Credit Deal Ensuring Equal Recognition Between Lyricists & Composers

The Music Composers Association of India (MCAI) and Screenwriters Association (SWA) in India have signed a historic memorandum of understanding establishing equal recognition between composers and lyricists in song creation.

Inked after months of negotiations, this pact will also establish a more structured approach to creative collaborations for music creators and also mandates separate contracts with producers, empowering both composers and lyricists to negotiate independently.

This new MOU will have a significant impact not just on India’s music industry, but also in Bollywood, where many films heavily rely on the work of both composers and lyricists.

Director and music composer Vishal Bhardwaj, president of MCAI, said: “The MOU is more than an agreement, it’s a promise to ensure fair credit, respect and independence.”

Bhardwaj has directed films like Makdee, The Blue Umbrella and Khufiya and composed music for over 70 films and TV shows in India.

The MOU signing was attended by top Indian music professionals including composer Anu Malik as well as lyricists and writers Varun Grover and Kausar Munir.

SWA’s lyricists team including Puneet Sharma, Raj Shekhar, Hussain Haidry, Danish Javed, and Shellee, as well as MCAI representatives Indrajit Sharma and Vipin Mishra contributed toward discussions leading to the development of the MOU.