Vithabai Narangaonkar's family is unhappy with the makers of Shraddha Kapoor's 'Eetha' as they believe her legacy deserves to be properly remembered.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleEver since the trailer of Shraddha Kapoor's upcoming film, Eetha, dropped, it has been generating a lot of buzz. Many of Shraddha's fans are eagerly looking forward to the release of the film. For those unaware, Eetha's teaser won praise for Shraddha's powerful transformation into Lavani artist, Vithabai Narayangaonkar. However, it seems that the late artist's family feels that the film's makers have not given her the recognition that she deserves.
According to reports, the National Congress Party's (NCP) Film and Cultural Department has questioned why the makers of the film have decided to name the biopic Eetha. They believe that since the film is based on the life of Vithabai Narayangaonkar, they should have titled it either Vitha or Vithabai. This would be the only way to give the legendary folk artist the recognition that she deserves. Babasaheb Patil, the Maharashtra State President of the NCP's Film and Cultural Department, claimed that it is their responsibility to protect and honour the legacy left behind by Vitabhai. He went on to ask why the movie was not named after Vithabai himself given the fact that the artist has such a huge contribution to Lavani and Tamasha.
According to the online reports, apart from the NCP's Film and Cultural Department, similar concerns have been voiced by the late artist, Vithabai Narayangaonkar's family. Vithabai's sons, Kailash and Rajesh Narayangaonkar, as well as her grandson, Mohit Narayangaonkar, are unhappy with the name Eetha. In fact, they even want the makers to rethink their decision and change the title if possible.
For them, it is not just about what the film is titled. Instead, they believe that since the film is about Vithabai's life, it should definitely carry her name. This would help give the due respect to a woman whose work has shaped Maharashtra's rich Lavani tradition. The fact that the makers chose to name it Eetha means that Vithabai's legacy won't be remembered the way it deserves to be. It is worth noting that as of now, neither director, Laxman Utekor nor Maddock Films, has issued any official statement to address the concerns of the late artist's family.
For those unaware, Vithabai Narayangaonkar was one of the most well-known faces in Maharashtra's Lavani and Tamasha tradition. She was not a respected folk artist of her time, but became a huge inspiration to generations of performers who came after her. Back in 1957, her contribution to Indian folk arts was recognised by the President of India. She got the recognition a second time in 1990.
What people did not see at the time was that behind all that applause and fame, Vithabai's life was one filled with a lot of hardship. Even after being a celebrated artist in Maharashtra, she had reportedly spent her final years battling financial difficulties. After Vithabai's death, her passion for the art continues to live on through her family, as her daughters and sons-in-law have also taken up Lavani and Tamasha.
Shraddha Kapoor's Eetha will highlight the larger-than-life presence that Vithabai Narayangaonkar had back in the day. The trailer has already given the audience a glimpse into what they can expect from the film. For those who haven't seen it, it opens with a group of Lavani performers entertaining the audience. However, the performance soon gets interrupted when the crowd turns impatient and demands that ‘Eetha’ should take the stage. It seemed like an almost impossible task as, backstage, she was seen enduring intense pain after going into labour. Even after the warning that she should not go on stage and perform, as it could cost her life, she delivers an outstanding performance just moments after giving birth.
What are your thoughts on Eetha facing backlash from Vithabai Narayangaonkar's family? Let us know.
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