Mirzapur: The Movie has landed in controversy over the use of the song Shoorveer, a track dedicated to Maharana Pratap. Rajasthani rapper and musician Rapperiya Baalam alleged that the song was used in the film without his permission or knowledge and questioned why a track created in honour of the historical warrior was used during a sequence involving gangsters.
Baalam expressed his disappointment on social media after viewers began messaging him about hearing Shoorveer in the film. He said he would have been happy to work with the Mirzapur team had they approached him, but objected to what he believed was an unauthorised use of his song.
However, the controversy has since taken another turn. Trouper Records, the label behind Shoorveer, has clarified that the song was officially licensed to Excel Entertainment for use in Mirzapur: The Movie. The label also credited Rapperiya Baalam as the singer and composer of the track.
Why Is Rapperiya Baalam Angry With Mirzapur The Movie?
Baalam’s objection goes beyond simply seeing his song in a major film. In a video shared on Instagram, the musician said he was “heartbroken” after discovering that Shoorveer had been used in Mirzapur: The Movie. He questioned whether the film’s team had obtained permission from him and why a song dedicated to Maharana Pratap was being used to accompany fictional gangsters.
“The team never took my permission to use the song. This song was dedicated to Maharana Pratap Singh, and you’re using it to glorify villains? Is this okay?” he questioned.
Baalam also said that had the team approached him, he would have offered alternatives. “If the Mirzapur team had approached me and said, ‘Rapperiya bhai, we want to use your song,’ we would have given them 10 ideas,” he said, while questioning who had provided the rights to use the track.
What Did Rapperiya Baalam Say About The Song’s Rights?
The initial allegation centred on permission and copyright. Baalam questioned who had given Mirzapur: The Movie the rights to use Shoorveer and whether the person or entity that licensed it actually held the necessary rights.
“I don’t know who gave you these rights or from whom you obtained them. Whoever gave you the rights, I would like you to ask them: Do you have any copyright?” he said.
However, Trouper Records has now addressed that particular part of the controversy. The label stated that Shoorveer was “officially licensed to Excel Entertainment for in-film use in Mirzapur: The Film” and publicly shared the song’s credits, naming Baalam as its singer and composer.
This means the question of whether the song was licensed has received a response from the rights-holding label, although Baalam’s concerns about how the song was used and his understanding of the permission process remain part of the wider controversy.
Why Is Shoorveer Significant To Maharana Pratap?
Shoorveer is closely associated with Maharana Pratap, the legendary Mewar ruler whose resistance against Mughal expansion has made him an enduring figure in Rajasthan’s history and cultural memory.
For Baalam and supporters of the song, its use in a gangster sequence therefore carries a significance beyond its musical value. The controversy gained further traction after the Rajasthan-focused Instagram page Folk Music of Rajasthan supported Baalam and criticised the film’s creative choice.
“It is disheartening to see the song Shoorveer, a sacred tribute to the legendary Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap Singh Ji Mewar, being misused in the Mirzapur movie to glorify fictional gangsters,” the page wrote.
The post further argued that history should not be mixed with crime dramas simply for entertainment and called for greater sensitivity towards Rajasthani culture and historical figures.
Why Are Fans Criticising The Use Of Shoorveer In Mirzapur?
The backlash is largely centred on the context in which the song appears. While Baalam questioned the permission process, supporters of the musician have also objected to the song being played alongside fictional gangster violence. One reaction described the use of Shoorveer, a tribute to Maharana Pratap, to glorify fictional gangsters as “disheartening”, arguing that the sacrifices associated with the historical figure should not be used as a backdrop for crime-drama entertainment.
Other social-media users also called for accountability and said regional music and history should be treated with greater sensitivity when incorporated into mainstream cinema.
What Has Mirzapur The Movie Team Said About The Controversy?
At the time of Baalam’s initial allegations, the Mirzapur: The Movie makers had not publicly responded to his accusations. The more recent clarification has come from Trouper Records, the label behind Shoorveer, rather than directly from Excel Entertainment. The label’s statement confirms that the song was officially licensed for the film. It also credits Baalam as the singer and composer.
Mirzapur: The Movie stars Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Jitendra Kumar and Ravi Kishan. The film is directed by Gurmeet Singh and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under Excel Entertainment.
