As Shraddha Kapoor brings Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s life to the screen in Eetha, the story of Maharashtra’s legendary Tamasha artist is finding a new audience.

Before Shraddha Kapoor portrayed her in Eetha, Vithabai Narayangaonkar had already become a name deeply associated with Maharashtra’s Tamasha tradition. Born on July 1, 1935, in Pandharpur, she grew up in a family where folk performance was part of everyday life. Her grandfather, Narayan Khude, had established a travelling Tamasha troupe, while her father Bhau Bapu Narayangaonkar continued the family tradition. Vithabai learned Lavani, Gavlan and other forms of folk theatre not in a formal classroom, but while travelling with the troupe and performing before audiences across Maharashtra.

That early exposure shaped the artist she would become. Vithabai developed a powerful stage presence and eventually attracted the attention of Marathi playwright Mama Varerkar, who invited her to perform with his troupe. Her career grew from the travelling stages of Tamasha into a much wider recognition, making her one of Maharashtra’s most celebrated folk performers. Audiences came to know her as “Tamasha Samradni,” the Empress of Tamasha, a title that reflected the influence she had earned within the tradition.

A Life Built Around the Stage

Vithabai’s artistry was rooted in the traditional form of Tamasha, a performance culture combining music, dance, theatre, humour and storytelling. She became known for her command of the stage and her distinctive performances, while also remaining closely connected to the travelling troupe culture through which she had learned the art.

Her recognition eventually reached the national level. She received Presidential honours for her contribution to folk culture, including recognition in 1957 and again in 1990. Her career also extended beyond Maharashtra, and accounts of her life describe performances in different parts of India and even abroad.

But recognition did not remove the difficulties surrounding the lives of many traditional performers. Vithabai spent much of her career advocating for the welfare of Tamasha artists and working for better support for people who depended on the folk tradition for their livelihoods. Contemporary reporting after her death also highlighted the contradiction between her public stature and her family's financial circumstances.

When the Applause Was Not Enough

Vithabai died on January 15, 2002, after suffering a paralytic attack. Reports published at the time revealed that her family struggled to clear her hospital expenses and arrange for her body to be taken to Narayangaon for the last rites. Well-wishers and people associated with the Marathi cultural community eventually helped the family meet those costs.

The circumstances surrounding her final days remain one of the most difficult parts of her story. A performer who had spent decades entertaining audiences and advocating for other Tamasha artists was still living with financial insecurity at the end of her life.

Her death did not end her influence. The Maharashtra government later instituted the Vithabai Narayangaonkar Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising senior Tamasha artists for their contribution to the traditional art form. The state’s Directorate of Cultural Affairs continues to list recipients of the award, which has become one of the formal recognitions associated with the Tamasha tradition.

Why Eetha Brings Her Story Back

More than two decades after Vithabai's death, her life is returning to public attention through Eetha, directed by Laxman Utekar and starring Shraddha Kapoor in the lead role. The film is inspired by Vithabai’s life and places her journey within the world of Maharashtra’s Tamasha and Lavani traditions. It is scheduled for theatrical release on December 4, 2026.

The film also brings an important question back into focus: what happens to the stories of artists whose work helped preserve a cultural tradition long before their lives became suitable for cinema?

Vithabai's story offers one answer. Her importance was never dependent on a film being made about her. She had already spent decades performing, travelling, influencing other artists and defending the folk tradition she had inherited.

Eetha may introduce her to a new generation, but the legacy belongs to Vithabai herself. She was an artist shaped by the road, the stage and the traditions of Maharashtra, and her name remains part of the history of Tamasha long after the final performance.

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