Bhubaneswar: A high-level meeting was held in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday to discuss the way forward regarding the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath following the Supreme Court’s refusal to stay its release.
The meeting, held at the State Guest House, was attended by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Kumar Padhee and other senior officials.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb said discussions focused on ways to promote the culture, traditions and glory of Lord Jagannath in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision. He said the matter is scheduled to be heard by the Orissa High Court on Wednesday and the stakeholders are awaiting its verdict.
The Gajapati Maharaja said the issue concerns the sentiments of millions of Jagannath devotees and expressed hope that an appropriate resolution would be reached at the earliest.
The meeting assumes significance after the Supreme Court, on July 29, rejected the Odisha government’s plea seeking modification of its earlier order permitting the release of the animated film after the Rath Yatra festival.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (July 29) refused to halt the release of the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan dismissed an application from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration seeking to modify the court’s July 17 release order.
The apex court observed that creativity, art and culture cannot be curtailed merely because some people may be sensitive about depictions of gods and goddesses. The Bench declined to interfere with its earlier order allowing the film’s release, noting that animation is a creative medium intended to engage children.
The controversy over the film has drawn widespread public attention in Odisha, with several organisations and devotees raising concerns over the depiction of Lord Jagannath and seeking legal intervention against its release. The matter is now set to come up before the Orissa High Court for further hearing.
