Mahaprabhu Jagannath Animated Film Releases After Legal Battle Over Depiction of Lord Jagannath

Mahaprabhu Jagannath, an animated mythological film based on Lord Jagannath, was released in theatres across India on September 4, 2026, in Odia, Hindi, and Telugu. The film, produced by Bhubaneswar-based Ele Animations, reached screens after a months-long legal battle over its depiction of the deity.

The film is directed by Shripad Warkhedkar and produced by Durga Prasad Dalai, founder and CEO of Ele Animations. It serves as a cinematic extension of the studio’s popular television series Jay Jagannath, which aired on Pogo and accumulated over 100 crore views on YouTube.

Mahaprabhu Jagannath marks the first animated feature film from Odisha. It was made on a budget of approximately Rs 6 crore and released across 300 screens with 700 shows nationwide, including 30 theatres and 60 shows in Odisha.

The voice cast includes Prachi Save Saathi as Jagan, Sonal Kaushal as Balram, and Aadityaraj Sharma as Ahamasur. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes and received a U certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification in all three languages.

Set in Kaliyug, the story follows Ahamasur, a proud student of a sage who turns into a demon due to his ego. He traps devotees and divine beings in a mysterious mercury world. Mahaprabhu Jagannath, along with Balram and Garud, travels across realms to confront Ahamasur through wisdom rather than destruction.

Legal Battle

The film faced objections from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration in Puri, which raised concerns about the portrayal of Lord Jagannath. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, chairman of the temple managing committee, stated that the trailer portrayed a completely fictitious story of Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu that was contrary to sacred narrations in the scriptures.

Deb said in a statement: ‘The official trailer of this movie, which has been released and is in circulation on social media, portrays a completely fictitious story of Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu. The story is contrary to the sacred narrations in our scriptures.’

The Orissa High Court stayed the film’s release on July 16, 2026, just before its scheduled July 17 premiere, following a public interest litigation. The court banned the release for not strictly adhering to the Skanda Purana and Brahma Purana.

Ele Animations appealed to the Supreme Court. On July 17, 2026, a bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan permitted the film’s exhibition but only after the completion of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra on July 27. The court directed that the film could be released on or after July 28.

Justice Nagarathna said during the hearing: ‘Devotion is something internal for everyone. Can an animated film bring down devotion? How can fiction be in accordance with the Skanda Purana and the Brahma Purana… It is only imagination at work.’

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing the filmmakers, argued that the intent of the film was to instill devotion in children and that the fictional form was adapted to make the deity’s stories accessible to young minds. He noted that the film was a movie adaptation of a TV series that had been running successfully for over two years.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Odisha, said the trustees and Gajapati of the Lord Jagannath Temple had found certain portions objectionable. He said: ‘There are certain issues… The way in which the Lord is shown fighting… I do not take examples but consider if Lord Krishna is shown as having been born in a resort instead of in prison… You may have literary freedom, but you cannot have radical change.’

Release Delays and Final Date

Following the Supreme Court order, the film was initially rescheduled for release on August 28, 2026, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Balaram Jayanti. It was later moved to September 4, 2026, on the occasion of Janmashtami.

Producer Durga Prasad Dalai said in a statement: ‘We have done our part with complete faith and sincerity, and now we leave the film in Mahaprabhu’s hands.’

Dalai also said: ‘After everything this film has gone through, to finally see Mahaprabhu Jagannath reaching theatres on Raksha Bandhan and Balaram Jayanti feels like His blessing.’

On the film’s final release date, Dalai said: ‘We have waited for this moment with a lot of faith. There were many points in this journey where we could only surrender and trust that Mahaprabhu would decide when the film should reach people. And today, when we see that it is coming to theatres on Janmashtami, it genuinely feels like his decision.’

In an earlier statement after the Orissa High Court stay, Dalai said: ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath is an extension of our animated series Jay Jagannath, created with the utmost honesty, sincerity and devotion for Lord Jagannath and His devotees. The film is a heartfelt depiction of a devotee’s bhav towards Mahaprabhu Jagannath, and we make no claim otherwise.’

Reviews and Reception

Filmfare gave the film a rating of 3 out of 5, calling it a combination of cuteness and action that works for young audiences. The review noted that the 2D animation did not always create the big-screen scope the story required but praised the voice acting.

DNA India gave the film 4 stars, stating that it stays true to the original source and delivers a captivating rollercoaster ride. The review said the climax sequence featuring the vishwaroop of Jagannath was a highlight.

India Today described the film as a devotional saga celebrating the victory of good over evil, noting that its screenplay was strongest when allowing characters to express ideas through simple emotions rather than heavy sermons.

The film’s soundtrack was released in Hindi, Odia, and Telugu, featuring voices including Atharva Bakshi, Aviral Kumar, and Abhay Jodhpurkar. The title song Mahaprabhu Jagannath was sung by Atharva Bakshi with lyrics by Atul Kumar Verma and music by Arijit Shrivastava.

Ele Animations has announced a long-term franchise roadmap that includes an animated children’s series on Lord Shiva titled Mere Bhole, along with stories centred on Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Kali, and Goddess Durga.

Mahaprabhu Jagannath is currently screening in theatres across India in Odia, Hindi, and Telugu.