JAIPUR: Senior BJP leader and former Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Rajendra Rathore has asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to remove the song "Shoorveer" from the web release Mirzapur The Movie, objecting to its picturisation alongside gangster and criminal characters.
Complaint sent to CBFC chairperson
Rathore wrote to CBFC chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati demanding that the words of the song be expunged from the film and that the board put in place safeguards so songs, symbols and references associated with historical personages are not used in ways that could offend public sentiments, the letter said.
"The use of Rapperiya Balam's 'Shoorveer' song in 'Mirzapur The Movie' alongside gangsters, drug peddlers and criminal characters is extremely objectionable and hurts public sentiments," Rathore said in the letter, according to the communication.
He argued the composition — dedicated to the valour of Maharana Pratap and his loyal horse Chetak — cannot be linked with depictions of criminality without showing disrespect to the historical and cultural heritage associated with the 16th-century Rajput ruler.
Artist and copyright concerns
The song is composed and sung by Rapperiya Balam, the stage name of singer Ashok Manda Bishnoi. Bishnoi, the artist, also shared Rathore's letter on his Instagram account and has earlier alleged that the filmmakers used the song in the movie without obtaining his permission.
According to the material made public, Bishnoi had said in a video that he was hurt by the way the song had been used, even as some observers pointed out that featuring in a major franchise might ordinarily be seen as recognition.
Political and cultural dimensions
The complaint frames the issue as both cultural and political. Rathore emphasised a distinction between the values represented by Maharana Pratap — widely revered in Rajasthan — and the on-screen persona of gangster characters such as Divyenndu's Munna Tripathi, whose shootout scene reportedly features the song.
Rathore also noted objections being voiced on social media and asked the CBFC to ensure similar uses of historical songs and symbols are not permitted in future releases.
- Complainant: Rajendra Rathore, senior BJP leader and former LoP, Rajasthan Assembly
- Regulatory addressee: Shashi Shekhar Vempati, CBFC chairperson
- Song: "Shoorveer" by Rapperiya Balam (Ashok Manda Bishnoi)
- Film: Mirzapur The Movie (web release)
- Allegations: Use without permission; association of a song dedicated to Maharana Pratap with criminal imagery offends public sentiment
Why the matter matters in Rajasthan
Maharana Pratap is a central figure in Rajasthan's historical memory. Cultural references to the Rajput hero are frequently invoked in public discourse across the state — from school textbooks and commemorations to political symbolism. The use of a song explicitly praising his valour in a contemporary crime drama therefore raises questions about context, consent and the responsibilities of filmmakers when deploying historical imagery.
Rathore's letter requests not only removal of the song's words from the film but also a broader CBFC directive to prevent perceived misuse of materials connected to historical figures.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Song | Shoorveer |
| Artist | Rapperiya Balam (Ashok Manda Bishnoi) |
| Film | Mirzapur The Movie |
| Complainant | Rajendra Rathore |
| Regulator | CBFC (Shashi Shekhar Vempati) |
Possible next steps
The CBFC will decide whether to accept the complaint and seek edits, demand removal of the track or words, or decline the request on grounds of artistic licence and certification rules. The matter could also raise separate questions about copyright or licensing if Bishnoi's claim that permission was not sought is upheld.
For viewers and citizens in Rajasthan, the episode highlights an expanding forum of contestation where regional history, popular culture and regulatory norms intersect. The course of action taken by the CBFC may set a reference point for how similar grievances are handled in future releases.
Officials at the CBFC and representatives of the film have not been reported as responding to Rathore's letter in the material made public so far.
— Correspondent based in Jaipur
