The Odisha government moved the Supreme Court against the release of the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath, citing a law and order situation, days after the Court cleared it for July 28.
New Delhi: The Government of Odisha moved the Supreme Court against the release of the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath, which has been cleared for exhibition by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), contending that its release has given rise to a serious law and order situation in the State .
The State’s application was mentioned before a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana on Monday.
Advocate General for Odisha Pitambar Acharya sought an urgent listing of the matter, telling the Court that the film had already begun to generate unrest.
Explaining the posture of the litigation, he submitted,
“The matter is a little sensitive, there is an animated movie of Lord Shri Jagannath which is being telecast in a Cartoon Network POGO channel..the main writ petition is pending before the High Court challenging the certificate granted by CBFC..we have filed an MA by the Jagannath temple committee..it is a disposed of matter before Justice Nagarathna and Mahadevan.”
Pressing for the matter to be taken up at the earliest, and pointing to the parallel step taken before the executive, the Advocate General added,
“May I pray it be listed tomorrow..the Jagannath committee has also moved the Centre for revocation of certificate..”
The Court was informed that the Shree Jagannath Temple committee has separately approached the Central Government seeking revocation of the certification granted by the CBFC.
The State’s fresh application seeks, in effect, to reopen an issue that a coordinate Bench had disposed of a fortnight earlier. On that occasion, a Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan had permitted the release of the film on or after July 28, taking into account that the Rath Yatra and its associated rituals were under way for a ten-day period.
The Bench had noted that the CBFC had cleared the film for exhibition after considering it against the relevant parameters.
Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for the film’s makers, had pressed the commercial stakes, submitting that crores had been invested in the project and that, “There is grave economic loss my lords…”
Recording the circumstances, that Bench had observed,
“We have been apprised that the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra commenced yesterday and will continue for a period of 10 days, until July 27…it is stated by the appellant that the tv series has been exhibited on youtube. Yesterday onwards for a period of 10 days lord Jagannath yatra and rituals connected therewith are taking place..In these circumstances, we permit the film to be exhibited on or after 28th July. Appeal is disposed of in aforesaid terms.”
That order had itself come on the makers’ challenge to an interim order of the Orissa High Court restraining the film’s release.
The Orissa High Court, by an interim order of July 15, had stayed the release of the film, holding that while freedom of speech and expression is constitutionally protected, it cannot be permitted to wound religious sentiments in a manner that results in unrest in society.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman passed that order on a public interest litigation seeking revocation of the CBFC certificate and a direction restraining the film’s exhibition in Odisha.
Weighing the competing rights, the High Court observed,
“Even if the movie enjoins the guarantee of the freedom of expression and/or speech, but it impacted the thoughts and the action of the common people. At times may shatter the sentiments, the emotions and the religious belief, which cannot be allowed, if it results in unrest in the peaceful society.”
The High Court attached significance to the timing of the proposed release, noting that the producer intended to release the film without incorporating the changes suggested during a special screening held before the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration. With the Rath Yatra having commenced on July 16 and a large congregation of devotees expected, the Court held that a release on July 17 would be counterproductive, and restrained Ele Animations Pvt. Ltd. from releasing the film on that date “or thereafter without leave of the Court or until the next date, whichever is earlier.”
It directed that the objectionable portions identified in the PIL required detailed examination after an exchange of affidavits, and listed the matter for August 5.
The controversy traces to June 6, 2026, when Ele Animations Pvt. Ltd. released the teaser of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, announcing its theatrical release.
The teaser and the film’s content drew objections from devotees, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration and others, prompting the producer to arrange a special screening before the Gajapati Maharaja and Temple Administration officials, at which several objections were reportedly raised over depictions said to be inconsistent with established religious traditions and temple practices.
According to the petitioners before the High Court, although the producer assured those present that suitable changes would be made, the film’s release was announced without the changes being carried out.
They alleged that the film misrepresents the culture, rituals and devotional history associated with Lord Jagannath portraying invented childhood episodes, personal adventures and battle sequences involving the deity, and including narratives said to be contrary to the Skanda Purana, the Brahma Purana and long-established temple traditions and contended that such portrayals could harm devotees’ beliefs and cause public unrest.
Opposing the plea, the producer submitted that the film carried a disclaimer clarifying that it was a work of fiction with no connection to historical or religious reality, and that it was protected by the guarantee of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a), pointing also to the substantial investment made in the project.
The High Court, while recognising that protection, held that it had to be balanced against the reasonable restrictions in Article 19(2), observing that films are a powerful medium capable of significantly influencing public thought, particularly where they touch on matters of religious faith.
Case Title: State of Odisha v. Ele Animations Pvt. Ltd. and Others