Supreme Court Dismisses Odisha's Plea to Halt 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath' Film Screening

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has dismissed the Odisha government's plea to stop the screening of the animated film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath'. The court emphasized that animation is a vital form of art for children and should not be obstructed by petitions. The decision comes after the government raised concerns about potential law and order issues due to objections from certain groups regarding the film's portrayal of Lord Jagannath. The court had previously allowed the film's nationwide release following the Jagannath Yatra festival, noting its prior availability on YouTube and approval from the censor board.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 29, 2026, 13:54 IST

Supreme Court's Ruling on Animated Film

New Delhi, July 29 - The Supreme Court has rejected the Odisha government's petition aimed at stopping the screening of the film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath' on Wednesday. The court stated that animation represents a new form of art designed for children, and such petitions should not hinder its release. A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan refused to amend its earlier order permitting the film's exhibition after hearing the arguments.

The bench remarked, “There is creativity in the country. Animation is meant for children. Nowadays, people are not reading books.”

It emphasized that these matters should not obstruct artistic expression. The Odisha government had argued that the portrayal of Lord Jagannath could lead to law and order issues due to objections from certain groups regarding the film's depiction. Previously, the court had granted permission for the animated film to be screened nationwide after July 28, following the Jagannath Yatra festival. The bench highlighted that the animated film had already been showcased on YouTube, based on a web series, and had received approval from the censor board for public viewing.