Shraddha Kapoor Starrer Eetha Hits Legal Hurdle? Vithabai Narayangaonkar's Family Wants Title Changed - DEETS

Eetha Controversy: Shraddha Kapoor’s upcoming biographical drama Eetha has drawn objections months before its theatrical release, shifting attention from the actor’s first look to the film’s title. The film is said to be inspired by the life of legendary Lavani and Tamasha artist Vithabai Narayangaonkar, but political representatives and members of the artist’s family have questioned why the makers did not name the film after her.

The debate began after the teaser introduced Shraddha in a dramatic folk performance setting, with many viewers noticing her physical transformation for the role. Soon after, the Nationalist Congress Party’s Film and Cultural Department objected to the title. The demand has now gained weight with Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s family also urging the makers to reconsider the name.

Why Eetha’s title has become controversial

According to a TV9 Marathi report, the NCP’s Film and Cultural Department believes a film based on Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s life should directly carry her name. The organisation has reportedly suggested that titles such as Vitha or Vithabai would be more appropriate for a biopic celebrating her contribution to Maharashtra’s folk performance culture.

Babasaheb Patil, Maharashtra State President of the NCP’s Film and Cultural Department, reportedly said the organisation sees it as its responsibility to preserve and honour Vithabai’s legacy. He questioned why the makers chose another title when the film’s subject is widely associated with one of Maharashtra’s most respected Lavani and Tamasha performers.

The objection is not only about branding. For those opposing the title, the name of the film is tied to cultural memory. They argue that a mainstream Hindi film about Vithabai’s life could introduce her story to younger audiences across India, making the title an important part of recognition.

Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s family supports the demand

Vithabai’s sons, Kailash Narayangaonkar and Rajesh Narayangaonkar, along with her grandson Mohit Narayangaonkar, have also expressed disappointment over the title, according to the report. The family wants the makers to rename the film in a way that directly honours the artist whose life and work are believed to have inspired the story.

For the family, the issue appears to go beyond a creative decision. They feel that a biopic should help preserve Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s identity for future generations. Their objection reflects a larger concern often raised around films based on real cultural figures: how much control families and communities should have over representation.

As of now, director Laxman Utekar and Maddock Films have not publicly responded to the criticism. The makers have also not issued any clarification on the meaning of Eetha or whether the title is meant to be a fictionalised name for the central character.

Who was Vithabai Narayangaonkar?

Vithabai Narayangaonkar is remembered as one of Maharashtra’s most celebrated Lavani and Tamasha artists. Her stage presence, performance style and contribution to folk theatre made her an influential figure for generations of performers. She is often associated with the rich travelling performance traditions that shaped popular entertainment in Maharashtra before cinema and television became dominant.

Lavani, known for its rhythm, poetry and expressive dance, has long occupied a complex space in Maharashtra’s cultural history. Tamasha, a folk theatre form that combines music, dance, drama and satire, gave many performers a public platform. Vithabai’s name remains closely linked with both these traditions.

Her contribution to Indian folk art received national recognition. She was honoured by the President of India in 1957 and again in 1990. Despite this recognition and her stature as a performer, reports over the years have suggested that she faced financial hardship in her later life, a reality often associated with traditional artists whose work shaped regional culture.

What the Eetha teaser shows

The teaser of Eetha opens inside a packed Lavani performance space, where the crowd is shown demanding the arrival of Eetha. Backstage, Shraddha Kapoor’s character prepares to perform while heavily pregnant. The sequence then turns intense as she goes into labour and struggles through severe pain.

Even after a voice warns that performing could endanger her life, the character refuses to stop. The teaser shows her giving birth and then returning to the stage to complete her performance. The final stretch presents her as a towering public figure, surrounded by cheering crowds, before a voiceover describes her as a “toofan.”

The teaser appears designed to underline the performer’s grit, physical endurance and devotion to the stage. It also explains why the title has drawn sharper scrutiny. Once the film’s imagery strongly suggested a story rooted in Vithabai’s life, the absence of her name in the title became the central point of objection.

Eetha marks Shraddha Kapoor’s reunion with producer Dinesh Vijan after the success of the Stree franchise. The film is backed by Maddock Films and directed by Laxman Utekar, who has also collaborated with Dinesh Vijan on Chhaava. The cast includes Randeep Hooda and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub in pivotal roles.

The film is scheduled to release in theatres on August 28, 2026. Until the makers respond, the title debate is likely to remain a key talking point around Eetha. The controversy has also brought renewed attention to Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s legacy and the responsibility of mainstream cinema when it revisits the lives of real cultural icons.