The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the makers of ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ over their use of ‘Shoorveer’, a song originally composed as a tribute to Maharana Pratap, in one of the film’s key scenes. The court instructed the counsel representing the makers to watch the film before returning the next day, posing a pointed question on whether his “conscience is satisfied” with how the track was used.Delhi HC’s sharp remarks during hearing“You please see and come tomorrow. If your conscience is satisfied… you are playing such a scene in the background song displaying Maharana Pratap,” remarked the bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia according to the India Today report, addressing advocate Jay K Bhardwaj, who appeared for Excel Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the film’s production house.The observations came during proceedings on a public interest litigation demanding that Shoorveer be dropped from the film’s climax or swapped out for a different background track.What sparked the controversy over ‘Shoorveer’The petition seeks formal guidelines from authorities regulating how songs and creative works linked to historically significant figures can be used, arguing such content shouldn’t clash with the values and legacy associated with the personality in question.During arguments, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that ‘Shoorveer’, performed by Rapperiya Baalam, was released in July 2020 specifically as a tribute to Maharana Pratap, with lyrics referencing Mewar, Chetak, honour and sacrifice. The song notably opens with the line, “It is not a gangster song.”The petitioner, an alumnus of Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology in Udaipur, said he was taken aback to find the song featured in a film centred around a criminal underworld involving gang violence, narcotics, illegal arms, sexual abuse and territorial conflict.Court weighs artistic freedomThe bench also touched upon the larger issue of creative liberty while hearing the matter. It observed, “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 petitioner’s counsel sought interim relief, suggesting that the background score be muted or that specific words be removed in the meantime.Lawyer admits he hasn’t watched the filmWhen the court turned to Bhardwaj for his response, it directly asked, “Have you seen the film?” Bhardwaj admitted he hadn’t watched it himself but noted he had been told the scene didn’t match how it was being described in court.Following this exchange, the bench directed him to watch the film and return with his response on Thursday. The matter has been adjourned till the next hearing.
