Mirzapur: The Movie is approaching the ₹100 crore mark at the Indian box office, but its strong theatrical performance has been overshadowed by a controversy involving the reported use of a song without permission.
Rajasthani rapper and musician Rapperiya Baalam has alleged that his song Shoorveer, a tribute to Maharana Pratap, was used in the film without his consent or proper credit.
The song reportedly features during a sequence involving gangsters in Mirzapur: The Movie, which arrived in cinemas on September 4.
Baalam addressed the matter on Instagram, expressing disappointment that the filmmakers allegedly did not contact him before using the track.
The artist questioned how permission for the song’s inclusion was obtained and said he was not approached by the film’s team. He also suggested that he would have been willing to collaborate with the makers if they had contacted him directly.
Baalam’s concerns extend beyond the alleged lack of permission. He questioned the context in which Shoorveer was reportedly used, arguing that a song created in honour of Maharana Pratap was being used in a sequence associated with the film’s villains.
The musician said he could have provided suggestions about how the track could be incorporated into the story if the production team had consulted him.
The controversy has also raised questions about music licensing and copyright ownership. Baalam has publicly asked who granted permission for the song to be used and whether the appropriate rights were obtained before it appeared in the movie.
The artist described the alleged use as disrespectful toward Rajasthan and Maharana Pratap, indicating that he considers the matter serious.
At the same time, Baalam acknowledged that the song’s appearance in the film has generated substantial attention. He said numerous people contacted him after recognising Shoorveer while watching the movie.
Despite the increased exposure, the musician maintained that proper permission and licensing procedures should have been followed.
Baalam also hinted that he could take further action over the alleged unauthorised use of the track. However, no specific legal proceedings have been confirmed in the information currently available.
As of publication, the makers of Mirzapur: The Movie had not publicly responded to Baalam’s allegations. The claims therefore remain allegations until the filmmakers or relevant rights holders provide clarification.
Meanwhile, the film continues to perform strongly at the Indian box office.
According to reported figures, Mirzapur: The Movie earned around ₹36 crore net in India on its third day. This reportedly pushed its domestic net collection to approximately ₹93.75 crore.
The film’s reported worldwide gross has reached around ₹132.35 crore, including approximately ₹20 crore from overseas markets.
Directed by Gurmmeet Singh, Mirzapur: The Movie expands the popular franchise onto the big screen and brings back several familiar characters from the series.
Ali Fazal returns as Guddu Bhaiya, while Pankaj Tripathi reprises his role as Kaleen Bhaiya and Divyenndu returns as Munna Bhaiya.
The ensemble cast also includes Shweta Tripathi, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Rasika Dugal, Jitendra Kumar, Sonal Chauhan, Ravi Kishan, Mohit Malik and Sushant Singh.
The film has received an ‘A’ certificate from India’s Central Board of Film Certification, reflecting its mature content.
With the movie nearing ₹100 crore domestically, its commercial performance is drawing considerable attention. However, the allegations surrounding Shoorveer have added an unexpected controversy to the film’s early theatrical run.
Further clarification from the filmmakers or the song’s rights holders could determine whether the dispute develops into a formal copyright or licensing matter.
