Kathmandu. Senior singer Anand Karki has objected to the statement made by singer Durgesh Thapa about the salary dispute. Karki clarified his side by saying that important developments were missed in the statement released by Durgesh.
In his public statement, Karki mentioned that he did not get paid for a long time even when he recorded songs from Durgesh and gave voice for the movie ‘Rangi’. He says that despite repeated contact by phone, SMS and messenger, the problem was not resolved on time.
Karki said that even though the salary was finally received, it had to wait for about a year. He clarified that his displeasure was not limited to the amount but was related to delay in payment, lack of communication and professional responsibility.
Karki has also mentioned the conversation with the director of ‘Rangi’ movie Shovit Basnet in his statement. According to him, Basnet had called recently and said that he had only come to know later that he had been given responsibility for the film in a package of one and a half lakh rupees and that Karki’s salary had not been paid. Karki said that after Basnet asked him to send a QR taking the initiative for payment, he has already sent the QR.
Mentioning that Basnet’s initiative has been taken positively, Karki has raised the question of who will take the responsibility of paying the artist’s salary after the work is completed and how to ensure it. He says that artists should not suffer unnecessary suffering and confusion due to lack of clear responsibility and coordination in professional collaboration.
Durgesh, in a statement published earlier, mentioned that the artists who collaborated in the song ‘Dushman Hereko Heryai’ which was released on 15 August 2081 had already received the agreed remuneration before the release of the song. He made public the signed consent letter dated August 24, 2081 and clarified his side regarding the remuneration and financial rights of the song. He said that the payment of another song prepared for the film is the responsibility of the related film production side.
Karki, in his statement, has claimed that various aspects of the incident have been missed. He has mentioned that he has spent more than four decades in the Nepali music industry and has been loving, supporting and supporting the new generation of artists.
Stating that his love, wishes and blessings remain for Durgesh, Karki said that respect for the artist’s work and commitment to professional responsibility is essential.
“An artist’s remuneration is not mercy or benevolence, it is the fair value of his labor,” Karki said in a statement.
He said that he made his statement public not against any person but to develop the culture of transparency, timely payment of wages and mutual respect in the Nepali music and film industry.
Here is his statement:
father,
I feel it necessary to clarify my side as some important developments have been missed in the press release that you have published. My intention is not to defame anyone, but rather to draw attention to the issue of artist’s labor, remuneration and professional integrity.
I could not get my salary for a long time when you recorded songs from me and even gave voice for the movie ‘Rangi’. At first I waited patiently because of my own brotherly affinity and trust. The problem could not be resolved in time even after repeatedly contacting them through phone, SMS and messenger.
The fact that the salary is finally received but has to wait for almost a year is significant. It cannot be considered normal business practice for an artist to wait so long to get the price of his labor. My dissatisfaction is not only related to the amount, but also the delay in payment, lack of communication and expectations of professional responsibility.
In this development, the conversation with the director of ‘Rangi’ movie Shobit Basnetji is particularly noteworthy. He called me recently and said that he only came to know about the fact that I was given a package of one and a half lakh rupees for the film and that my salary was not paid. He asked to send a QR initiating payment of wages, and I have already sent the QR.
I take this initiative of Shovitji positively. But this incident raises a serious question—who will take responsibility for payment of the artist’s remuneration after the work is done and how will it be ensured? There should be no need for the artists to suffer unnecessarily due to lack of clarity of responsibilities and coordination in professional collaborations.
I have spent more than four decades in the Nepali music industry. I have got the opportunity to sing thousands of songs and the immense love of the audience. I have been loving, supporting and supporting the new generation of artists as much as possible. So my voice is not against any person; In favor of the artist’s labor and rights.
Durgesh Babu, my love, best wishes and blessings for you remain the same even today. You become more successful, achieve new heights in Nepali music field. But with success, I expect that respect for the work of others, commitment to word and professional responsibility will be equally strong.
An artist’s remuneration is not mercy or beneficence, but the just price of his labor. Intimacy is not immunity from responsibility; Rather, it is the basis for strengthening faith.
This statement is not for personal animosity, I have made it public with the aim of clarifying the reality of what I have experienced and developing the culture of transparency, timely payment of wages and mutual respect in the Nepali music and film industry.
Respect the artist’s voice, ensure fair value for labor and uphold honesty and responsibility in professional relationships.