Supreme Court Upholds Release of Animated Film on Lord Jagannath, Calls Art for Children

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea by the Odisha government seeking to block the release of the animated film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath', ruling that animation is a modern art form intended for children and should not be restricted by such petitions.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan declined to modify its earlier order that permitted the film's release, emphasizing the importance of creativity. 'There is creativity in the country. Animation is for the purpose of children. Nobody is now reading books. These things should not come in the way of art,' the bench remarked.

The Odisha government had argued that the film could provoke law-and-order issues after some groups objected to the portrayal of Lord Jagannath. However, the court noted that the film had already received clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and was based on a web series previously released on YouTube.

The bench had earlier allowed the all-India release of the film after July 28, following the Lord Jagannath Yatra festivities, and instructed the filmmakers not to release it during the Rath Yatra. Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing the producers, argued that a significant investment had been made and that theatres were booked, causing substantial losses if the film was not released during the 10-day festive period.

The court disposed of the producers' petition against a High Court order that had stayed the film's release. The High Court had observed that objections regarding the depiction of Lord Jagannath required detailed judicial scrutiny. The interim order came in response to a public interest litigation filed by Mahesh Kumar Sahu of Angul, Dr Pramod Kumar Acharya of Puri, and Umashankar Acharya of Nimapada, who sought cancellation of the film's certification and a ban on its screening in Odisha.

The petitioners objected to the fictional portrayal of Lord Jagannath's childhood, dialogue, and battle sequences, claiming they contradicted scriptures such as the Skanda Purana and Brahma Purana, as well as established temple traditions. The Supreme Court's decision underscores the balance between religious sentiments and artistic freedom, with the court favouring the latter in the context of children's entertainment.