Supreme Court Allows Release of Mahaprabhu Jagannath Movie 2026 Post 28 July

The Supreme Court has permitted the release of the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath on or after 28th July 2026. The Court has modified an interim order passed by Orissa High Court that had restrained Mahaprabhu Jagannath movie release date. The Supreme Court order was passed by the bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan in a civil appeal filed by ELE Animations Pvt. Ltd. against the High Court order. 

Orissa High Court Order on Mahaprabhi Jagannath Movie

The appeal arose out of an order dated 15th July 2026 passed by Orissa High Court. As detailed in an earlier Law Chronicle report, the Orissa High Court had, by way of an interim order, directed that ELE Animations Pvt. Ltd. shall not release the animated film titled Mahaprabhu Jagannath on 17th July 2026 and thereafter, without the leave of the Court or until the next date, whichever was earlier. 

Arguments Before the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court heard counsels from both the sides. The Supreme Court order records the following facts as submitted before the bench: 

• The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra festival commenced on 16th July 2026 and shall continue up to 27th July 2026.
• The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), had permitted exhibition of the film and had cleared it after considering the relevant parameters.
• Senior counsel for the appellant submitted that the film had earlier been exhibited as a television series and was also available on a YouTube channel, and that the same fictional story was now being released as an animated film in movie halls across the country.
• The Solicitor General informed the Court that from 16th July 2026 onward, for a period of ten days, the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra procession and connected rituals were taking place.

Supreme Court's Decision

The Apex Court took note of the fact that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has permitted the exhibition of Mahaprabhu Jagannath 2026 film and has cleared the same after considering the film having regard to the relevant parameters. Taking these submissions on record and considering the ongoing Rath Yatra process for the next ten days, the Court permitted the makers to release Mahaprabhu Jagannath movie 2026 on or after 28 July 2026.  

Case Details 

• Case: ELE Animations Pvt. Ltd. v. Mahesh Kumar Sahu & Others
• Case No.: Civil Appeal (@ SLP(C) No. 23905/2026)
• Bench: Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan
• Date of Order: 17 July 2026
• Impugned Order: Judgment dated 15 July 2026 in WP(C) No. 21986/2026, High Court of Orissa at Cuttack