Rajasthan BJP leader Rajendra Rathore has urged the CBFC to remove the song ‘Shoorveer’ from Mirzapur: The Movie, arguing its use alongside gangsters and drug peddlers insults Maharana Pratap’s legacy. The track, created by Rapperiya Baalam as a tribute to the Rajput ruler, is said to hurt public sentiments and misuse a culturally revered composition in a violent, criminal context.
Rajendra Rathore, a senior BJP member and former Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan, has written to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) seeking the removal of the song 'Shoorveer' from Mirzapur: The Movie, which released in theatres on September 4.
Referring to the song's placement alongside scenes featuring gangsters and criminal characters in the film, the leader argued that the use of a song dedicated to Maharana Pratap in such a context was disrespectful to the historical ruler's legacy and could hurt public sentiments. In his letter to the board, which he shared on X, Rathore wrote, "The use of Rapperiya Baalam's 'Shoorveer' song in Mirzapur The Movie alongside gangsters, drug peddlers and criminal characters is extremely objectionable and hurts public sentiments."
The song was originally composed and performed by Rajasthani folk singer and rapper Rapperiya Baalam, whose real name is Ashok Manda Bishnoi, as a tribute to Maharana Pratap's valour. In his letter, Rathore wrote that using the song's lyrics and sentiments — which were composed to honour sacrifice, bravery, righteousness and devotion to the motherland — in the context of gangster culture and criminal violence was deeply inappropriate and disrespected Maharana Pratap as well as the cultural significance associated with him.
Bishnoi also shared the leader's letter on his social media. Previously, he had alleged that the makers had not sought his permission for using the song in the film. The musician posted a video last week, publicly stating that the song was dedicated to Maharana Pratap and denied consenting to its inclusion in Mirzapur: The Movie. "Today my heart is broken, but you will say, 'Brother, you should be happy that your song features in Mirzapur. But the Mirzapur team didn't take my permission that we are using your song'. Then who gave them the permission?"
In addition to seeking the removal of the song, Rathore urged the CBFC to ensure that songs, symbols and references attached to historical figures are not misused in films, stating that they may affect public sentiments.
As per industry tracker Sacnilk, wrapping up its first week in theatres, Mirzapur: The Movie stands at ₹148.45 crore in total net collections in India, after opening to ₹25.75 crore on its first day. After a rise in tickets sold in its first weekend, with day 2 collections at ₹32.00 crore and day 3 at ₹36.00 crore, the film has closed its first week with ₹10.55 crore earned on September 10.
On September 10, ₹10.50 crore of the film's earnings came from its original Hindi-language shows, and ₹0.05 crore was earned through its Telugu-language shows. Day 7 saw its highest occupancy in Delhi's National Capital Region (NCR), leading ticket sales with 1,230 shows, followed by Mumbai with 733 screenings and Ahmedabad with 497 shows.
Directed by Gurmmeet Singh and written by Puneet Krishna, Mirzapur: The Movie is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under Excel Entertainment, with Kassim Jagmagia and Vishal Ramchandani co-producing.