Shraddha Kapoor’s upcoming film Eetha has hit a legal hurdle with the family of the legendary Tamasha artist Vithabai Narayangaonkar demanding a change in the film’s title. Amar Kaushik’s biographical drama has been in the news since its teaser that portrayed Kapoor as the archetypal folk theatre queen.
The issue is because Vithabai’s descendants say that the title Eetha does not reflect the cultural and personal legacy of the late artist. They want the film to mention Vithabai’s name and her contributions to Marathi folk theatre. If her name was changed, her family says, her identity as a person would be diminished and her life story distorted.
People in the industry say biopics are often difficult to capture real-life cases -- especially those from the personal lives of cultural icons. The family’s request has led in this case to open up discussions about intellectual property rights, legacy rights and the ethical responsibility of filmmakers to respect descendants’ wishes. If the family steps in to pursue legal action, legal experts say the production house might have to agree to change the title or negotiate to avoid protracted fights.
Despite the controversy, Eetha is eagerly awaited. The teaser, attached to the theatrical release of Cocktail 2, has already earned praise for Shraddha Kapoor’s dedication to embodying Vithabai’s spirit. Her portrayal shows Tamasha as an art and a person of resilience in a folk art genre that combines music, dance and storytelling. Kapoor’s performance is one of her most daring roles to date and could be the most radical of her career.
Maddock Films too is focused on diverse storytelling. And by bringing Vithabai’s journey to the big screen, the studio is presenting young viewers to an art form that has permeated regional theatre for generations. But if the legal challenge is not resolved in time, promotional efforts may not be able to proceed as scheduled and the film may be delayed.
And while Eetha is a culturally rich and emotionally potent story, Vithabai Narayangaonkar's family has extended the challenge of Eetha’s development. If the filmmakers have to work with or change the title, the result will have an impact on the way biopics deal with the creative vision and the real-life legacy. For now, fans wait for more news to come in the future as the issue is resolved with no one expecting it to impact one of the biggest movies of 2026.
