Supreme Court to Review Odisha's Challenge Against Animated Film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath'

The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea from the Odisha government contesting the release of the animated film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath', which has already been cleared by the CBFC. Concerns have been raised regarding the film's portrayal of Lord Jagannath, with the state fearing potential unrest. The case highlights the ongoing debate over artistic representation and religious sentiments, as the film's producers argue that significant investments have been made in anticipation of its release. This legal battle underscores the delicate balance between creative expression and cultural sensitivities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 19:43 IST

Supreme Court Takes Up Odisha's Appeal

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea from the Odisha government on Tuesday, contesting the release of the animated feature Mahaprabhu Jagannath, which has already received clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, along with Justices Vikram Nath and B V Nagarathna, will review the case after it was brought to their attention by Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, who described the situation as 'somewhat sensitive' and requested an expedited hearing.

Acharya highlighted that the animated film, which features Lord Shri Jagannath, is currently being aired on the Cartoon Network POGO channel. He noted that a writ petition challenging the CBFC's certification is still pending in the High Court, and the Jagannath temple committee has filed a plea regarding the matter.

He expressed concerns that the film's release might lead to public unrest in the state.

Acharya requested that the case be listed for hearing the following day, mentioning that the Jagannath committee has also approached the central government to revoke the film's certification.

Previously, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan had allowed the film's nationwide release after July 28, following the Lord Jagannath Yatra celebrations.

The court acknowledged that the animated film is based on a web series that has already been released on YouTube and that the CBFC had approved it for screening.

However, the bench instructed that the film should not be released during the Rath Yatra festivities.

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing the film's producers, argued that significant financial investments had been made, and theaters were booked, indicating that a delay in release during the 10-day festivities would result in substantial losses.

Kamat emphasized that the CBFC had cleared the film, which is intended for children and is purely fictional, similar to animated films about Bal Ganesh.

The bench had previously dismissed the producers' petition against the High Court's ruling.

The High Court had remarked that the concerns regarding the film's portrayal of Lord Jagannath necessitate thorough judicial examination before it can be publicly screened.

This interim order was issued while considering a public interest litigation filed by Mahesh Kumar Sahu from Angul, along with Dr. Pramod Kumar Acharya from Puri and Umashankar Acharya from Nimapada.

The petition sought to annul the film's certification by the CBFC and to prevent its public screening in Odisha, citing objections to the fictional representation of Lord Jagannath's childhood, dialogue, and battle scenes, which were claimed to contradict the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, and established temple traditions.