Jun 23, 2026 3:23pm IST
‘Eetha’ Teaser Review: Shraddha Kapoor Breathes Life Into The Legacy Of Lavani’s Greatest Legend
The crowd is a sea of anticipation, their voices swelling into a single, roaring chant. They aren’t just waiting for a performance; they are summoning a force of nature. This is the electrifying opening of the teaser for “Eetha”, Maddock Films’ highly anticipated biographical drama.
Directed by Laxman Utekar, fresh off the staggering success of the 2025 historical epic “Chhaava” and produced by Dinesh Vijan, the film sees Shraddha Kapoor shedding her contemporary image to step into the skin of Maharashtra's ultimate folk icon, Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar.
To understand the weight of the teaser, one must understand the woman who inspired it. Spanning from 1940 to 1990, “Eetha” chronicles the fierce, unyielding life of Vithabai, the undisputed "Queen of Lavani."
Vithabai wasn't just an artist, she was a pioneer who kept the traditional Tamasha (folk theatre) art form alive through sheer force of will. Born into poverty, her life was a continuous battle against societal stigma, financial ruin and the grueling demands of a traveling performer's life.
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The teaser taps into her legendary grit, hinting at one of the most famous pieces of folklore from her life: delivering her child backstage and returning to the spotlight to dance just minutes later, refusing to let her family's troupe down.
The teaser thrives on a brilliant, visceral juxtaposition. We see a massive crowd screaming "Eetha!" in pure adoration. Then, the audio seamlessly cuts to a completely different sound — a raw, agonizing scream of a woman in labor.
This sharp transition perfectly encapsulates the duality of Vithabai’s life: the immense glory of the stage versus the painful reality of her personal struggles.
This could be a career-defining performance for Shraddha Kapoor. The absolute conviction in her eyes is paired with dialogue that hits like a sledgehammer: "If I die lying in bed, I will be remembered as helpless. But if I die dancing, I will be remembered as a legend."
Maddock Films is clearly pulling no punches with the scale of this production. The grandeur of the tamasha setups, the traditional makeup and the energetic choreography feel authentic and deeply rooted in Maharashtrian culture.
The teaser closes on a striking note, cutting to a moment where Kapoor is revered by the masses — a testament to the god-like status Vithabai earned among folk lovers.
The film also boasts a powerhouse supporting cast, including Randeep Hooda playing Vithabai’s love interest, alongside Nana Patekar, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, Anant Joshi and Siddharth Jadhav.
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