SC to hear producer's plea on 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath' release

New Delhi: The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Friday a plea challenging an order of the Orissa High Court which restrained Ele Animations Pvt Ltd from releasing its animated film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath', scheduled to hit theatres on July 17.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of a submission made by senior advocate Devdatt Kamat seeking an urgent hearing.

The senior lawyer requested the bench to list the matter on Thursday but the court said it would hear the matter on Friday.


The high court had observed that the objections raised over its portrayal of Lord Jagannath require detailed judicial scrutiny before the film can be exhibited.

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

The petition sought cancellation of the film's certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and a direction restraining its public screening in Odisha.

The petition objected to fictional depictions of Lord Jagannath's childhood, dialogue, adventures and battle sequences, contending that they were contrary to the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana and long-standing temple traditions.