Bhubaneswar: The authorities of Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri city have opposed the release of animated movie ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’ amid allegations that the film portrays distorted information about Lord Jagannath.

“The animated film has portrayed Lord Jagannath in a pure fictional manner. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has strongly opposed the release of the animated movie, Mahaprabhu Jagannath, in its present form,” said the authorities of the 12^th century shrine in a statement on Sunday.

It is worth mentioning here that the Orissa High Court (HC) had stayed the release of the animated movie while hearing a PIL on July 15.

The makers of the film had earlier announced that they would release the movie on July 17.

The HC had stayed the release of the movie after Puri King Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, the SJTA and several religious scholars alleged that the film portrays distorted information about lord Jagannath.

The Puri King and the SJTA had suggested several changes to the film so that the viewers would get authentic information about Lord Jagannath.

Without making the necessary changes, the makers of the film had announced its release date.

However, the Supreme Court of India permitted the makers of the film to release it after the completion of the annual Rath Yatra in Puri on July 27. The apex court, in its order on July 17, had asked the makers of the film to postpone its release till the completion of the Rath Yatra in Puri.