BB Desk
Some stories stay with you because of the people who lived them, while others turn into legends because of the courage it took to tell them. For Shraddha Kapoor, EETHA merges both these realms. The actress is all set to fill the very large shoes of Eetha Bai, a legendary Lavani artist whose extraordinary journey forms the core of this epic musical drama presented by Maddock Films and Kathputli Creations.
The newly unveiled trailer of the film offers a glimpse into a vibrant, evocative world where music, dance, ambition, and adversity come together. But beyond the grandeur of its performances and the spectacle of its visuals lies a deeply human story: that of a woman who defied conventions, challenged the odds, and rose above every obstacle to carve an unforgettable place in history through her art.
The film marks an opportunity to explore a character and a cultural world that are both fascinating and deeply rooted in India’s artistic heritage for Shraddha. Known for her ability to move between different cinematic spaces, the actress now takes on the challenge of portraying a woman whose legacy transcends generations.
Speaking about her experience, Shraddha Kapoor said, “It’s a story about a woman whose art, courage, and individuality make her unforgettable. The more Laxman sir told me about the character, the more I felt connected to her world. Playing this role has been an incredibly exciting experience, and I am thrilled for audiences to discover her journey on the big screen. This is also my grand reunion with Maddock Films after we made magic with Stree and Stree 2, which is thrilling to say the least. The entire team has put in so much hard work, and I cannot wait for audiences to experience the world of Eetha.”
The reunion with Maddock Films is particularly significant, considering Shraddha’s association with the production house has already resulted in two major successes with the Stree franchise. However, EETHA takes her into an entirely different cinematic territory moving away from the supernatural universe of Stree and into the culturally rich, emotionally layered world of Lavani.
Interestingly, it is a form of performance that is as expressive as it is powerful. Lavani, with its infectious rhythm, distinctive musicality, and larger-than-life performers has been an integral part of Maharashtra’s cultural identity. Yet, the women who dedicated their lives to this art form and the personal journeys behind their celebrated performances have rarely received the cinematic attention they deserve. That is precisely the space EETHA hopes to explore.
For producer Dinesh Vijan, the film is an opportunity to bring an exceptional yet relatively unexplored story to mainstream Hindi cinema. Speaking about what drew him to the project, he juxtaposed, “One of the most exciting things about cinema is that every once in a while, you come across a story so extraordinary that you wonder why the world doesn’t already know about it. For me, Eetha was one of those stories. When I first heard it, I was fascinated not just by the incredible world of Lavani — its music, its rhythm, its energy and its larger-than-life characters — but by the extraordinary women who brought this art form to life. We have celebrated their performances for generations, but how often have we stopped to understand their journeys? The courage, the sacrifices, the struggles and the sheer strength of these women are as extraordinary as the art itself. What amazed me was that a world so rich in culture, emotion and powerful human stories had remained largely unexplored in Hindi cinema. It felt like an incredible opportunity to bring this world and the people who shaped it to the big screen. These remarkable women deserve to be seen, heard, and remembered.”
Directed by Laxman Utekar, the film follows his successful collaboration with Maddock Films on Chhaava, but ventures into a markedly different cinematic landscape. While Chhaava drew audiences into a historical world defined by valour and sacrifice, EETHA finds its emotional strength in the life of an artist who transformed her struggles into an enduring legacy.
Explaining his vision, Utekar expressed, “After the blockbuster success of Chhaava, which became a mega cinematic spectacle, I wanted to take audiences into a completely different world with EETHA. While the two films are vastly different in their settings, both are rooted in the extraordinary strength of their central characters. EETHA is the story of an artist who became a legacy. We have brought together authenticity, emotion and scale to create a cinematic experience that audiences can truly immerse themselves in.”
The film’s ambition also extends beyond telling one woman’s story. It seeks to celebrate an entire cultural tradition and the generations of women who have kept it alive. Stressing that cultural connection is central to the film’s appeal, Producer at Kathputli Creations Karishma Sharma noted, “India is home to extraordinary stories, rich cultural traditions, and fascinating characters that deserve to be celebrated on the big screen. For us, the most exciting stories are those that are deeply rooted in our soil yet have the power to entertain and connect with audiences everywhere. EETHA brings together this very spirit. It is a remarkable story from our cultural heritage told through music, drama, emotion, and spectacle. We hope audiences discover a world that feels uniquely Indian, yet resonates universally.”
With its striking visual language, evocative music, and an emotionally charged narrative, EETHA promises to be more than a conventional musical drama. It is an attempt to revisit a forgotten corner of cultural history through the life of a woman who refused to let circumstances dictate her destiny.
Portraying Eetha Bai could well become a defining addition to Shraddha Kapoor’s promising filmography. The role brings together performance, dance, emotion, and the opportunity to inhabit a character whose story deserves to be rediscovered. And if the trailer is any indication, the actress is ready to take audiences into a world where the stage is not merely a place of performance, but a space where a woman claims her identity and creates her own history.
EETHA releases in cinemas on December 4, 2026.
