Cinema VinesThe Supreme Court has denied an urgent request to release the animated feature Mahaprabhu Jagannath during the ongoing Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, but has allowed the film to hit screens on or after July 28, once the festival concludes. The apex court also issued notices to the central government, the Odisha government, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration and other parties involved in the case.
The decision follows an earlier stay by the Orissa High Court, which halted the nationwide release of the film on the grounds that it did not strictly adhere to the religious text of the Skanda Purana. The High Court’s interim order was issued just a day before the film’s scheduled theatrical debut, leaving the producers with minimal time to seek relief.
Representing the filmmakers, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat argued that Mahaprabhu Jagannath is an animated film aimed primarily at children and is based on the life and legacy of Lord Jagannath. He contended that the High Court’s stay was based solely on the film’s deviation from the Skanda Purana and that the CBFC had already granted a U certificate under Section 5 of the Cinematograph Act, clearing it for release in Hindi, Odia and Telugu.
According to Kamat, the producers had invested crores of rupees in the project and had planned screenings in more than 300 theatres nationwide. He described the High Court’s order as a hurried decision, noting that it was uploaded only at 9 pm on the eve of the scheduled release, leaving little time for legal recourse.
While the Supreme Court declined to permit a release during the Rath Yatra, it has now set a new window for the film’s debut. Mahaprabhu Jagannath can be released in theatres on or after July 28, subject to any further orders that may arise in the case.
