New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday 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.
The Apex Court refused to change its earlier order that allowed the film to be released after the Rath Yatra festivities of Lord Jagannath and siblings.
A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan heard the arguments and observed that 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 was quoted by PTI as saying.
The Odisha government had contended that the release of the film could create law and order issues after objections were raised by some sections on the depiction of Lord Jagannath
Earlier, the Court had permitted the all-India release of the animated film on or after July 28 post Lord Jagannath Yatra festivities. The bench had noted that the animated movie was based on a web series already released on YouTube, and that the Censor Board (CBFC) had granted clearance for its screening. The SC, however, had asked the filmmakers not to release the movie during Rath Yatra festivities.
Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for the film producers, had contended that crores of rupees have been invested and theatres were booked and they would suffer enormous loss if the film is not released during the 10-day festivities. He said the CBFC has cleared the film, which is meant for children and is pure fiction like an animated film on Bal Ganesh.
The bench had disposed of the petition filed by producers against the High Court order. The High Court had stayed the release of the film, observing that the objections raised over the portrayal of Lord Jagannath require detailed judicial scrutiny before the film can be exhibited.
The High Court bench had passed the interim order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Mahesh Kumar Sahu of Angul, along with Dr Pramod Kumar Acharya of Puri and Umashankar Acharya of Nimapada. The petition sought cancellation of the film’s certification by the CBFC and a direction restraining its public screening in Odisha.
The petition objected to the fictional depiction of Lord Jagannath’s childhood, dialogue, and battle sequences, contending that they were contrary to the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana and long-standing temple traditions.
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