The Supreme Court has authorized the nationwide release of the animated feature ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’ on or after July 28, following the Rath Yatra festivities. The court acknowledged the clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) while allowing the interim order from the Orissa High Court to remain intact.
On Friday, the Supreme Court’s bench, comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan, ruled that the animated film, inspired by a previously released web series on YouTube, could not be screened until after the Yatra, which began on Thursday in Odisha and other regions of India.
The film’s producers had contested a July 15 ruling from the Orissa High Court that had prohibited Ele Animations Pvt Ltd from releasing the film. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the State, pointed out the Yatra’s commencement.
The bench decided not to suspend the high court’s order and did not permit the movie’s release on July 17. Justice Nagarathna advised senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing the filmmakers, that they could proceed with the release after the Rath Yatra concluded.
Kamat passionately argued for the film’s original release date, emphasizing that the web series, which had been available on YouTube for two years, did not cause any issues. Despite his arguments, the bench advised against releasing the film during the Yatra festivities, which last for ten days.
Kamat expressed concerns about the significant financial investments and booked theaters, indicating substantial losses if the film were not released during the festivities. He highlighted that the CBFC had approved the film, which is intended for children and is purely fictional, similar to other animated films depicting cultural figures.
The bench concluded by dismissing the petition from the producers challenging the high court’s ruling. The high court had noted that concerns regarding the film’s portrayal of Lord Jagannath warranted thorough judicial examination before it could 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. Their petition sought to revoke the CBFC’s certification of the film and to prevent its public exhibition in Odisha, citing objections to the fictionalized depiction of Lord Jagannath’s childhood and its divergence from traditional scriptures and temple customs.
