‘No Objection to the Title’: Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s Daughter Backs Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha

The debate surrounding Shraddha Kapoor’s upcoming film Eetha has taken a new turn after Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s eldest daughter publicly backed the film’s title.

The clarification comes days after the teaser release sparked controversy, with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and some reports claiming that members of the late Lavani legend’s family were unhappy with the biopic not being named after Vithabai.

Putting the speculation to rest, Mangala Bansode Karavadikar, Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s eldest daughter and a President’s Award-winning Tamasha artiste, said the family has no objection to the title Eetha. She explained that “Eetha” was a name villagers affectionately used to address her mother during her performances, making it a fitting choice for the film.

Speaking to The Times of India, Mangala said, “We have no objection to the film’s title. I have spoken with Mohit and have requested him not to make any further statements on the matter. The title is appropriate because in those days, people from the villages where my mother performed would often call her Eetha.”

She also revealed that she had shared this piece of family history with director Laxman Utekar during the film’s research and development. According to Mangala, she has witnessed people using the nickname ever since she began performing on stage at the age of seven.

“I have been performing on stage since I was seven years old and have heard people address my mother by that name. We are happy that through this film people will come to know about my mother and how dedicated she was to her craft,” she added.

The clarification follows objections raised by the NCP’s Film and Cultural Department, which argued that a biopic on the legendary Lavani artiste should have carried Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s name instead of Eetha. Reports had also suggested that her sons, Kailash and Rajesh Narayangaonkar, and grandson Mohit Narayangaonkar were unhappy with the title, claims that Mangala has now contradicted.

Directed by Laxman Utekar, Eetha stars Shraddha Kapoor in the lead role, alongside Randeep Hooda and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. The biographical drama is scheduled to release in theatres on August 28.