Mahaprabhu Jagannath’ Movie Makers Approach Supreme Court Against Orissa High Court’s Ban On Its Release

Supreme Court of India to Review Orissa High Court Ban on Mahaprabhu Jagannath

The legal standoff centers on the film’s release, which was originally scheduled for July 17 across 300 theatres. Producers, Ele Animations Pvt Ltd, filed an urgent petition in the Supreme Court after the Orissa High Court issued a stay order late Wednesday, July 15. Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing the filmmakers, requested an urgent hearing on Thursday, July 16, arguing that the ban caused immense prejudice to producers who had already invested crores of rupees into the project. The release date had been fixed two months prior to the scheduled premiere.

Orissa High Court’s Intervention and Religious Objections

The stay order was issued by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman (also referred to as Justice M.S. Raman). The court acted on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by petitioners Mahesh Kumar Sahu of Angul, Dr. Pramod Kumar Acharya of Puri, and Umashankar Acharya of Nimapada. The petition sought the cancellation of the film’s certification and a ban on its public screening in the state, objecting to the portrayal of Lord Jagannath and seeking detailed judicial scrutiny.

The High Court expressed concerns that the movie could incite public unrest, particularly with the Rath Yatra festival scheduled to be held on July 16. The bench remarked: “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 and, therefore should ensure high degree of attention and retention. At times it creates an immediate influence and 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 bench further noted that the motive to release the film at a particular point in time might invite a prompt reaction having a “cascading effect” that could “corrode the fabric resultantly affecting the peace in the society.” While the petitioners initially sought a ban within Odisha, the High Court’s order effectively halted the film’s release nationwide.

Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee Challenge Film Content

Shree Jagannath Temple Administration’s Stance

The controversy intensified after the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) raised formal objections. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri and chairman of the SJTMC, publicly criticized the film’s trailer. He stated that the production portrays a completely fictitious story of Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu that contradicts sacred narrations. He maintained that any attempt to depict the deity should remain faithful to scriptural accounts, particularly those documented by Maharshi Vedavyasa, who described Lord Jagannath as the accessible form of Lord Krishna.

“The official trailer of this movie, which has been released and is in circulation on social media, portrays a completely fictitious story of Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu. The story is contrary to the sacred narrations in our scriptures,” Deb said. He warned that a “distorted and fictitious” portrayal of the deity could deeply offend millions of devotees globally and appealed to Ele Animations Pvt Ltd to postpone the release until the contents were authenticated by experts appointed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).

Records indicate that on June 6, 2026, the producer posted a teaser on a YouTube channel titled ‘Jay Jagannath’ announcing a July 10, 2026, release. Following widespread dissension regarding the content, the producer had exhibited the film to Puri’s Gajapati Maharaja and the SJTA.

Ele Animations Pvt Ltd Seeks Relief Under the Cinematograph Act

Filmmakers’ Defense and Supreme Court Appeal

The film’s producers maintain that the work is an animation intended for children and was already cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) under Section 5 of the Cinematograph Act. In their appeal to the Supreme Court, the filmmakers emphasized that the High Court’s ban was overly broad, as the original petition only sought a ban within Odisha. Mr. Kamat noted that the High Court’s order was uploaded at 9:00 p.m. on July 15, leaving the producers little time to react before the intended July 17 release.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant Schedules Final Judicial Determination for July 17

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined to list the matter for an immediate hearing on Thursday, July 16, stating that same-day listings are reserved for extremely urgent matters like death penalty executions. The Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing for July 17, 2026, placing the film’s immediate commercial future in the hands of the apex court.

Find more reporting in our Entertainment section.