The Shoorveer song has been removed from Mirzapur: The Movie, the Delhi High Court was told, and the Court has disposed of the public interest litigation while asking whether the makers should pay costs.
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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the use of the Shoorveer song, associated with Maharana Pratap, in the climax of Mirzapur: The Movie, after the producer’s counsel informed it that the song had been removed. The Bench indicated that costs should be paid by the makers [PIL by Prashant Kumar Singh].
A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma heard the matter. The case number was not reported.
The challenge
The petitioner argued that using a song linked to Maharana Pratap as background music for a violent climax scene associated the ruler’s ideals with violence. At an earlier hearing, on September 17, the Bench had called its use prima facie “not in good taste”. The makers had also been before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on a proposal to replace the track.
The song is gone
The producer’s counsel told the Court that the song was removed with effect from September 17, 2026, is no longer played, and that a certificate of deletion had been placed on record. The petitioner did not dispute this, and neither did the CBFC. The Bench observed:
“If the song had not been removed voluntarily, we would have directed that it be removed”
The question of costs
The Acting Chief Justice asked counsel to say whether the makers would voluntarily pay some costs:
“You volunteer and pay some costs and contribute to the social purpose; otherwise, we’ll say that you have misused it all these days. Your act has to be coupled with some social responsibility”
The Bench said no further orders were needed on the PIL itself and indicated that it would not sign the order unless costs were imposed. The producer’s response on costs, and the amount if any, was not reported.
Why the order matters
The PIL ends without a ruling on whether the use of the song was unlawful, because the makers acted before the Court had to decide. The Bench’s remark that it would have ordered removal shows how it viewed the matter, while the questions it raised on costs suggest it expects a petitioner’s concern, once acknowledged by the makers, to be matched by some public contribution.
Case Title: PIL by Prashant Kumar Singh concerning Mirzapur: The Movie (case number not reported)
Bench: Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma, Delhi High Court