Supreme Court Dismisses Odisha Plea, Clears Release of Animated Film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath'

The Supreme Court on July 29 dismissed a plea filed by the Odisha government seeking to halt the release of the animated film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath', observing that animation is a creative art form designed for children and should not be restricted through such legal challenges.

A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan declined to modify its earlier order permitting the film's release. During the hearing, the court remarked that "there is creativity in the country" and noted that animation plays an important role in engaging children, adding that such works should not be obstructed by petitions that curb artistic expression.

The Odisha government argued that screening the film could trigger law-and-order issues, citing objections from certain groups over the portrayal of Lord Jagannath in the animated feature.

Earlier, the apex court had allowed the film's nationwide release after the Rath Yatra festivities, directing the producers not to release it during the religious celebrations. The court also observed that the movie is based on a web series already available on YouTube and had received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), allowing it to be screened.

Appearing for the producers, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat argued that the filmmakers had invested crores of rupees in the project and had already booked theatres across the country. He submitted that delaying the release would cause heavy financial losses. Kamat also maintained that the film is a fictional animated story meant for children, similar to other mythological animated films such as those based on Bal Ganesh.

The matter reached the Supreme Court after the Orissa High Court had stayed the film's release while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mahesh Kumar Sahu, Dr. Pramod Kumar Acharya, and Umashankar Acharya. The petition sought cancellation of the film's CBFC certification and a ban on its screening in Odisha, claiming that its depiction of Lord Jagannath's childhood, dialogues, and battle scenes contradicted the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, and long-standing temple traditions.

However, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its earlier decision, effectively clearing the way for the film's release after the conclusion of the Rath Yatra festivities.