Shraddha Kapoor’s upcoming film Eetha has run into a title controversy ahead of its theatrical release. While the teaser has generated attention for Shraddha’s transformation into celebrated Lavani and Tamasha performer Vithabai Narayangaonkar, questions are now being raised over why the biopic does not carry the legendary artist’s name.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has reportedly objected to the title and suggested that the film should instead be named after Vithabai. Members of the folk artist’s family have also backed the demand, arguing that a biographical film about her life should directly honour her identity and legacy.
Why Is Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha Facing A Title Row?
According to a report by TV9 Marathi, the NCP’s Film and Cultural Department has questioned the decision to call the film Eetha rather than using Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s name.
The organisation has reportedly suggested alternatives such as Vitha or Vithabai, saying a title directly connected to the artist would better acknowledge her contribution to Maharashtra’s folk traditions.
Babasaheb Patil, Maharashtra State President of the NCP’s Film and Cultural Department, reportedly said that preserving and honouring Vithabai’s legacy is an important responsibility. The reported objection centres on whether a film based on the artist’s life should carry a title that makes her identity immediately recognisable.
Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s Family Supports The Demand
The title issue has also reportedly drawn criticism from Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s family.
According to the report, her sons Kailash Narayangaonkar and Rajesh Narayangaonkar, along with grandson Mohit Narayangaonkar, have expressed their disappointment and appealed to the filmmakers to reconsider the title.
For the family, the issue is about more than simply changing a film’s name. They believe that placing Vithabai’s name in the title would help preserve her memory and ensure that younger generations associate the story with the artist who made a significant contribution to Maharashtra’s Lavani and Tamasha traditions.
At present, director Laxman Utekar and Maddock Films have not publicly responded to the reported demand, based on the information available in the source material.
Eetha Teaser Shows Shraddha Kapoor In A Powerful Avatar
The title controversy comes shortly after the release of the Eetha teaser, which offered audiences their first substantial glimpse of Shraddha Kapoor in the role.
The teaser opens amid a lively Lavani performance, with a crowd waiting enthusiastically for Eetha to take the stage. Shraddha’s character is then shown backstage, preparing to perform despite being heavily pregnant.
The situation takes a dramatic turn when she goes into labour. Even while experiencing intense pain, she refuses to abandon her performance. A warning that continuing could put her life at risk does not appear to change her determination.
In one of the teaser’s most striking moments, the character returns to the stage shortly after giving birth to complete her performance.
The sequence establishes the character’s extraordinary commitment to her art and hints at the emotional intensity of the film.
Shraddha Kapoor’s Transformation Gets Attention
Shraddha’s portrayal of Vithabai Narayangaonkar has become one of the key talking points surrounding Eetha. The teaser suggests that the actress is moving into a markedly different performance space, with the character requiring her to capture the physicality and emotional strength associated with a celebrated folk performer.
The film is particularly significant because Vithabai’s story is closely connected to Maharashtra’s Lavani and Tamasha traditions, forms of folk performance that have played an important role in the state’s cultural history.
With the title now becoming a point of debate, attention will be on whether the filmmakers respond to the requests from the NCP and Vithabai’s family before the film reaches theatres.
For now, Eetha continues to generate curiosity not only because of Shraddha Kapoor’s transformation but also because of the discussion surrounding how the legendary artist’s life should be represented on screen.
