Mahaprabhu Jagannath gets Supreme Court nod, release after Rath Yatra

The Supreme Court allowed the release of Mahaprabhu Jagannath after Rath Yatra rituals end. The order balances CBFC clearance with objections over scenes said to depart from Puranic tradition.

In Short

• Court noted objections said some scenes strayed from established Puranic accounts
• Judges said the film may be screened only from 28 July
• Makers said CBFC clearance existed and 300 theatres were booked

The Supreme Court has allowed the release of the children's animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath, based on Lord Jagannath, but said it should be exhibited only after the Rath Yatra rituals are over. The court noted that objections had been raised to some scenes on the ground that they did not strictly follow the Puranic stories.

Hearing a challenge to an Orissa High Court order that had barred the film's release without the court's permission, the Supreme Court said the film could be released on or after July 28. The court also told the temple administration and government counsel that the release of the film "will not affect your devotion to your God".

The makers of the film had moved the Supreme Court after the Orissa High Court stopped its release across the country a day before it was scheduled to hit theatres on July 17. According to reports, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat made an urgent mention before the Chief Justice of India and sought a hearing on the same day. The Chief Justice declined a same-day listing, saying such listing is given only in extremely urgent matters such as death penalty cases, but agreed to hear the matter the next day.

Before the Supreme Court, Kamat said Mahaprabhu Jagannath was an animated feature on Lord Jagannath made for children and that the High Court had halted its release on the ground that it did not align with the Skanda Purana. He submitted that the Central Board of Film Certification had already cleared the film and granted it a certificate under Section 5 of the Cinematograph Act. He also said the High Court order had been uploaded only at 9 pm the previous day.

The producers argued that the ban would cause serious prejudice and hardship as crores of rupees had been invested in the project and more than 300 theatres had already been booked for the screening. They also said the public interest litigation in the High Court had been taken up just before the release and that the High Court had passed a hasty order banning the film across India.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court noted that the CBFC had permitted the release of the film. It also took note of the submission that the television series later converted into the film had been exhibited on YouTube for almost two years. The court observed that the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra and rituals would continue for the next 10 days and said, "We permit the film to be exhibited on or after 28 July." When the Solicitor General said there were Rath Yatras across the country, Justice B V Nagarathna said, "I know there is Rath Yatra in Bangalore and Ahmedabad also... it's happening across the country. You release the film any day after the 27th." The court also remarked, "Everybody will be eager to see the movie now... more box office for you."

The Orissa High Court, in its July 15 interim order, had said that while freedom of speech and expression is protected under the Constitution, it cannot be allowed to shatter religious sentiments in a way that leads to unrest in society. The High Court also said that releasing the film during the ongoing Rath Yatra, without incorporating changes suggested after a special screening before the Gajapati Maharaja and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, would be counterproductive.

The interim order was passed by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman in a public interest litigation seeking revocation of the CBFC certificate granted to the film and a direction restraining its exhibition in Odisha. The petition was filed by Mahesh Kumar Sahu of Angul, Dr Pramod Kumar Acharya of Puri and Umashankar Acharya of Nimapada. They said Ele Animations Pvt Ltd had released the teaser of the film on June 6, 2026, announcing its theatrical release.

According to the petitioners, the teaser and the film's content drew widespread objections from devotees, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration and others. They said a special screening was later arranged before the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri and temple administration officials, where several objections were raised over depictions said to be inconsistent with established religious traditions, spiritual history and long-standing temple practices. They alleged that although the producer had assured those present that suitable changes would be made, the film was still scheduled for release on July 17 without those changes.

The petition further alleged that the film misrepresented the culture, rituals, traditions and devotional history associated with Lord Jagannath by showing fictional childhood episodes, personal adventures and battle sequences involving the deity, depicting Lord Jagannath speaking and behaving in an invented manner, and including narratives said to be contrary to the Skanda Purana, the Brahma Purana and long-established temple traditions. The petitioners argued that such portrayals could harm devotees' religious beliefs and lead to public unrest.

On July 16, Ele Animations issued a statement saying the film had been made with "utmost honesty, sincerity and devotion" towards Lord Jagannath and his devotees. The makers described it as "an extension of our animated series Jay Jagannath" and said it was "a heartfelt depiction of a devotee's bhav (devotion) towards Mahaprabhu Jagannath". They added that they deeply respected the sentiments of every devotee and hoped audiences would get the opportunity to watch the film and decide for themselves.

The statement said the makers wanted the film to reach children and families during Rath Yatra and bring them closer to learning about Lord Jagannath and to imbibe the culture and values. It also said the film had received a U certificate from the CBFC in Hindi, Odia and Telugu. The makers said that as the matter was sub judice, they would refrain from commenting further and place their faith in the judicial process.

Earlier, before the High Court, the producer had argued that the film carried a disclaimer stating that it was a fictional story with no bearing on historical or religious fact and was not intended to undermine anyone's faith. The producer had also relied on the constitutional guarantee of free speech under Article 19(1)(a) and pointed to the scale of the financial investment in the project. With the Supreme Court now allowing the release after the Rath Yatra rituals, the dispute over the film's content and timing remains at the centre of the case.

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