Mumbai The way has been cleared for the nationwide release of the animated feature film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath'. After getting the green signal from the Supreme Court, this film will now be released in theaters pan India level on 28 August 2026. The film will be screened across the country through Cinepolis.
Claims to be Odisha's first animated feature film
'Mahaprabhu Jagannath' is being said to be the first animated feature film of Odisha. The film aims to convey devotion, Indian culture and values to children and families in an entertaining manner. The film is a cinematic extension of the popular animated series 'Jai Jagannath'. This series has received more than 100 crore views on YouTube.
The release was banned in July
The film was initially scheduled to release on July 17. However, the Odisha High Court had put an interim stay on the film's release across the country on the basis of a PIL seeking judicial review of its content. After this, the producers of the film challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court. The producers, in their petition, had also mentioned the film's 'U' certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the financial loss suffered due to booking of more than 300 theatres.
New release date after Supreme Court approval
After getting the release approval from the Supreme Court, the producers and distributors prepared a new release strategy. Considering the reach of the film at pan India level, Cinepolis has decided to release it in theaters on August 28.
The producer expressed happiness over the decision
Durga Prasad Dalai, founder of Elle Animations and producer of the film, expressed happiness over the Supreme Court's decision. He said that the film has been made with reverence, love and respect for Indian culture. Expressing his gratitude towards the Supreme Court, he said that through the film, an effort has been made to spread the devotion and grace of Lord Jagannath to the children and families in the country and abroad.
Who is in the film team?
Bhubaneswar based Elle Animations Pvt Ltd has been creating visual content since 2008. The film is directed by Shripad Warkhedkar, while the story and screenplay is written by Pallavi Sharma. The original songs of the film have been composed by Arjit Srivastava. The background score is by Aviral Kumar and the lyrics are written by Atul Kumar Verma. After legal hurdles, 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath' is now ready to hit the theaters on 28 August 2026.