Such scene on Maharana Pratap song: Court pulls up Mirzapur makers in Shoorveer row

Delhi High Court asked the makers of Mirzapur: The Movie to watch the film over the Shoorveer song controversy. The court is hearing a plea seeking the song's removal from the climax featuring gangster characters.

In Short

• Delhi HC asked Mirzapur's movie lawyer to watch the film and satisfy conscience
• The PIL seeks guidelines on use of culturally revered songs in media
• The petitioner objected to Shoorveer song's use in a gangster setting

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the makers of Mirzapur: The Movie over the use of Shoorveer, a song written as a tribute to Maharana Pratap, in a scene from the film. The court asked the lawyer representing the makers to watch the film and return the next day, asking whether his "conscience is satisfied" with the song being played against the scene.

"You please see and come tomorrow. If your conscience is satisfied... you are playing such a scene in the background song displaying Maharana Pratap," the bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia told advocate Jay K Bhardwaj, who was representing the film's makers, Excel Entertainment Pvt Ltd.

The exchange took place during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the removal of Shoorveer from the climax of Mirzapur: The Movie, or, alternatively, its replacement with another background score.

Why is Shoorveer at the centre of the Mirzapur row?

The petitioner has sought directions to the authorities to formulate suitable guidelines governing the use of songs, musical compositions and other material associated with historically or culturally revered personalities. The plea argues that such material should not be used in a manner contrary to or inconsistent with the character, values and legacy of the personality concerned.

During the hearing, the petitioner's lawyer submitted that Shoorveer, by Rapperiya Baalam, was released in July 2020 as a tribute to Maharana Pratap. The song's lyrics invoke Mewar, Chetak, honour, sacrifice and the legacy of Maharana Pratap. It begins with the line, "It is not a gangster song."

The petitioner, who graduated from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology in Udaipur, Rajasthan, claimed that he was shocked to see the song used in Mirzapur: The Movie. The plea objected to its placement against a criminal world involving gang wars, drugs, illegal weapons, sexual abuse, revenge, territorial battles and illegal empire-building.

Court asks Mirzapur makers to watch the film

The court also considered the broader question of artistic freedom while hearing the plea.

"We are only on protection of the fundamental right of an artist. It may be whether it is an artwork or not, that call has to be taken either by the Central Government. We are not making any comment. We are only saying that we perhaps are not competent to decide such issues," the bench said.

The petitioner's lawyer pressed for interim relief, arguing that the background music could be muted or that four words could be deleted or muted in the meantime.

The court then asked Bhardwaj what he had to say on the matter. While making his submissions, he was asked whether he had watched the film.
"Have you seen the film?" the bench asked.

Bhardwaj said he had not, but submitted that he had been instructed that the scene was not exactly as it had been portrayed before the court.

The court then directed him to watch the film and return on Thursday.

The hearing has been adjourned until the next day, when the court is expected to take up the plea again.

- Ends