SC allows release of animated film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath' after Rath Yatra

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the all-India release of the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath on or after July 28, after the conclusion of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra festivities.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan permitted the release after noting that the film is based on a web series already available on YouTube and that it has received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The producers had moved the Supreme Court after the Orissa High Court restrained Ele Animations Pvt Ltd from releasing the film, which was originally scheduled to be released in theatres on Friday.


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Appearing for the Odisha government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court, "The Yatra has commenced on Thursday in Odisha and other parts of the country."

The Orissa High Court had passed the interim order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Mahesh Kumar Sahu of Angul, Dr Pramod Kumar Acharya of Puri and Umashankar Acharya of Nimapada.

The petitioners sought cancellation of the film's CBFC certification and a direction restraining its public screening in Odisha.

The High Court had observed that the objections raised over the film's portrayal of Lord Jagannath require detailed judicial scrutiny before it can be exhibited.

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The petition challenged the film's fictional depiction of Lord Jagannath's childhood, dialogues and battle sequences, arguing that they are contrary to the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana and long-standing temple traditions.