The legal battle over Mahaprabhu Jagannath has reached the Supreme Court after the Orissa High Court stayed its nationwide release, prompting the filmmakers to challenge the last-minute ban on a CBFC-approved film.
The makers of the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath have approached the Supreme Court challenging the Orissa High Court’s order restraining the film’s nationwide release, contending that the decision was passed at the eleventh hour despite the movie receiving certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat made an urgent mention of the matter before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, seeking an immediate hearing as the film was scheduled to release the following day. However, the Chief Justice declined to list the matter on the same day, while assuring that it would be heard the next day.
Appearing for the filmmakers, Kamat submitted that Mahaprabhu Jagannath is an animated film intended for children and that the High Court prohibited its release on the ground that its depiction of Lord Jagannath was allegedly inconsistent with the Skanda Purana.
The filmmakers argued that the movie had already been granted certification under Section 5 of the Cinematograph Act by the CBFC, and that the High Court’s order—uploaded late in the evening a day before the scheduled release—would cause severe financial loss to the producers, who had invested crores of rupees in the project.
It was further submitted that screening arrangements had already been finalised in more than 300 theatres across the country and that the Public Interest Litigation challenging the film had been entertained only shortly before its release, resulting in a nationwide ban through what was described as a hurried order.
While refusing an immediate hearing, Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that same-day listing is ordinarily reserved for matters of exceptional urgency, such as cases involving imminent execution of a death sentence.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the producers’ challenge before the scheduled theatrical release of the film, where the validity of the High Court’s interim ban will come under judicial scrutiny.
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