The Supreme Court has refused to allow the immediate release of the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath during the ongoing Rath Yatra.
The bench said the film may be released only after the festival concludes, and permitted its screening on or after July 28, 2026. The court noted that the Rath Yatra began on July 16 and will continue till July 27.
The filmmakers had sought permission for a July 17 release, arguing that the CBFC had already cleared the film and that major theatre bookings had been made. However, the court declined to interfere with the Odisha High Court’s interim order stopping the release.
The matter is now part of a wider debate over religious portrayal, artistic expression, and sensitivity during sacred festivals. The High Court had earlier objected to the film’s release on the ground that it did not strictly follow the religious text of the Skanda Purana.
The Supreme Court has also issued notices to the Centre, the Odisha government, the CBFC, the temple administration, and others in response to the producer’s appeal.
SC refuses immediate release of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, says the film can be screened only after Rath Yatra ends on July 27.
