Supreme Court dismisses Odisha Govt plea against release of animated film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath'
The Supreme Court of India dismissed an Odisha government plea to block the release of an animated film about Lord Jagannath. The court emphasized that animation is a valid art form for children and should not be restricted by local law-and-order concerns.
Why it matters
The ruling reinforces judicial support for creative freedom and artistic expression against state-level censorship attempts.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) dismissed a plea filed by the Odisha government against the release of the film ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’ , saying that animation is a new form of art created for children and cannot be curtailed because of such petitions.
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan heard the arguments and declined to modify its earlier order which allowed the release of the film .
"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 said.
The Odisha government had contended that the release of the film could create law-and-order issues after objections were raised by some sections over the depiction of Lord Jagannath.
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