Supreme Court reviews Odisha government's plea to halt release of animated Mahaprabhu Jagannath film

The Odisha government petitioned the Supreme Court of India to intervene against the release of the animated film *Mahaprabhu Jagannath*, arguing that the movie could spark law‑and‑order problems in the state. Earlier the court had allowed the film’s exhibition after the conclusion of the annual Rath Yatra, citing that the Central Board of Film Certification had cleared it.

During a hearing, the bench questioned whether portraying the Hindu deity Lord Jagannath in cartoon form would diminish devotees’ faith, concluding that it was unlikely to do so. The Odisha government, represented by Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, sought to modify the earlier order, while the film’s producers cited heavy commercial investment. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration also objected, but the court indicated that the previous order had already balanced concerns of public order and religious sentiment.