A dispute has arisen regarding the use of the song 'Shurvir' in Pankaj Tripathi's film 'Mirzapur: Movie'. A political figure from the BJP party, Rajendra Rathore, sent a letter to the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Shashik Shekhar Vempati, demanding the exclusion of this composition.
The song was originally performed by Rajasthani singer-rapper Rapery Balm and is dedicated to the valor of the great warrior Raja Maharana Pratap. In the film, this song is shown in the context of a scene of violence.
The use of this song is drawing criticism from various groups. Many consider the use of a song that praises a warrior's bravery in such a context to be offensive and inappropriate.
In his letter, Rajendra Rathore expressed disagreement with the song's application in 'Mirzapur', noting that it has caused dissatisfaction and public outrage. He stated that the use of Rapery Balm's 'Shurvir' from Rajasthan in 'Mirzapur: Movie' is highly unacceptable and has hurt people's feelings.
According to the letter, the connection of the song to Maharana Pratap may distort its original meaning and humiliate the historical and cultural heritage of the great warrior. He emphasized that there is a clear distinction between the values of a hero-warrior and the values of the gangster portrayed in the film. He called it extremely regrettable to combine qualities such as bravery, self-sacrifice, religiosity, self-respect, and patriotism with crime, violence, and gangster culture.
The politician urged the CBFC chairman to remove the song from the film and demanded greater caution in using songs, symbols, and references related to historical figures in the future.
Furthermore, in conversation with a news agency, the politician mentioned recent comments by actress Swara Bhaskar regarding Deepika Padukone's film 'Padmaavat'. He stated that Swara Bhaskar had previously made derogatory remarks about Padmavati's 'Jauhar'—an act that is a source of pride for everyone. He condemned the manipulation of historical facts, stating that in the age of artificial intelligence, no one can use technology to spoil heritage. He categorically rejected any attempts to distort history under the pretext of freedom of expression or artistic freedom.
Meanwhile, 'Mirzapur: Movie' is showing impressive box office results, transitioning the popular franchise from OTT platforms to the big screen. The film is close to reaching the mark of 150 million rupees in its first week. Its Indian version, released last Friday, earned 27.85 crore rupees on the first day, and on Wednesday brought in 12.50 crore rupees, bringing the total revenue of the Indian version to 142.05 crore rupees.