The Delhi High Court on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, directed the producer of 'Mirzapur: The Movie' to donate ₹50,000 to the Army Welfare Fund after the court was informed that the song 'Shoorveer' — associated with the valour of Maharana Pratap — had been voluntarily removed from the film's climax sequence. The ruling came on a public interest litigation challenging the song's use as background music in a gangster scene.

What the Court Directed

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma recorded the submission made on behalf of the respondent that ₹50,000 would be voluntarily donated to the Army Welfare Fund within one week. The bench further directed that an acknowledgement of the donation be placed on record within two weeks, cautioning that failure to comply would result in the matter being relisted — this time solely to determine costs to be imposed on the respondent.

'If the acknowledgement is produced, the order directing disposal of the present petition shall govern the proceedings,' the High Court noted in its order.

The PIL and Its Allegations

The petition alleged that 'Shoorveer', originally composed as a tribute to Maharana Pratap and his followers, was repurposed as background music in a gangster climax sequence in a manner that critics argued glorified criminals and hurt public sentiments. The court, in a pointed observation during the hearing, noted that had the song not been removed voluntarily, it would have ordered its removal.

The song was pulled from the film on 17 September 2026, according to the submission made by counsel appearing for the producer — prior to the court's final direction.

About the Film and Its Makers

Directed by Gurmmeet Singh, 'Mirzapur: The Movie' is presented by Amazon MGM Studios in collaboration with Excel Entertainment. The project is backed by producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under the Excel Entertainment banner, with Kassim Jagmagia and Vishal Ramchandani serving as co-producers. The film features the return of Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Rasika Dugal, Shweta Tripathi, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Harshita Gaur, alongside new additions Jitendra Kumar and Ravi Kishan.

Why This Case Matters

This case is part of a broader pattern of legal challenges around the cultural and historical sensitivities of music and imagery used in mainstream Indian cinema. Courts have increasingly weighed in on whether creative licences taken by filmmakers cross the line of public sentiment — particularly when songs or symbols tied to revered historical figures are deployed in morally ambiguous or violent contexts. Notably, the producer's decision to proactively remove the song before a court order reflects growing awareness of reputational and legal risk in this space. The matter now hinges on timely compliance with the donation condition to secure final disposal of the petition.