The Supreme Court on Tuesday (28 July) questioned whether portraying Lord Jagannath in an animated format could reduce the faith of devotees while hearing the Odisha government's plea seeking modification of its earlier order allowing the release of the film Mahaprabhu Jagannath after the Rath Yatra.
A Bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan heard applications filed by the State of Odisha and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, which argued that the film depicts Lord Jagannath in a "cartoon form" and that their objections before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) should be considered before the movie is released.
Background
On July 17, the Supreme Court had permitted the nationwide release of the animated film on or after July 28, 2026, after the conclusion of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra. The Court had noted that the CBFC had already certified the film for public exhibition after examining it under the statutory framework.
Following that order, the Odisha Government filed miscellaneous applications seeking modification, while the main writ petition relating to the film continues to remain pending before the Orissa High Court.
Court's Observation
Appearing for the Temple Administration, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya argued that the primary concern was the film's portrayal of Lord Jagannath in animated form.
The Bench, however, appeared unconvinced by the submission.
Justice Nagarathna remarked,
"Whether devotion for Lord Jagannath will diminish if this picture is released for children? It will not. You are expanding the scope of the petition. Exhibition of the movie is a different thing. Animation will appeal more."
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, supporting the State's request, submitted that the Temple Administration had already approached the CBFC with its objections. He urged the Court to allow the certification body to independently examine those concerns before the film's release.
Justice Nagarathna reminded the parties that the Court had already considered competing concerns while passing its earlier order.
"We balanced both the things because we are also conscious of law and order and sensitivities. After the festival, we had said release the film," the Bench observed.
Senior Advocate Devdatt Kamat, appearing for the film's producers, opposed the applications and argued that the State was effectively seeking a rehearing of issues that had already been decided by the Court.
Court's Decision
After hearing the submissions, the Supreme Court agreed to take up the Odisha government's miscellaneous applications on July 29, 2026, for further consideration.
The Court did not modify its earlier direction permitting the release of Mahaprabhu Jagannath after the Rath Yatra during Tuesday's hearing.
