Shraddha Kapoor's 'Eetha' tells story of lavani artiste Vithabai, who turned down Raj Kapoor's offer

Shraddha Kapoor's upcoming film 'Eetha' is a biopic. She plays Vithabai, the well-known lavani and tamasha artiste of Maharashtra. The film is based on Vithabai's life and will release in cinemas on December 4. Fans are eagerly awaiting it.

Vithabai was born in Pandharpur village in Maharashtra's Solapur district and grew up in a family of artistes. Her father and uncle ran the Bhau-Bapu Mang Narayangaonkar troupe. The troupe was started by her grandfather Narayan Khude, who hailed from Kavathe Yamai village in Shirur taluka of Pune district.

From childhood, Vithabai was exposed to different forms of singing such as lavani, gavlan and bhedik. Despite having no schooling, she gave striking stage performances at a very young age without any training. Whatever the circumstances, she never gave up her art. Through hard work, struggle and talent, she came to be counted among the most famous lavani and tamasha artistes in the country.

Her fame grew so much that Raj Kapoor, one of Indian cinema's leading filmmakers and actors, also became her fan. Impressed by her art, Raj Kapoor offered her a role in his film, but Vithabai politely declined.

She declined because of her attachment to the theatre and its artistes. She believed that if she went into films, the members of her troupe would lose their livelihood, as they depended entirely on her performances.

The most striking episode of Vithabai's life came when she chose to perform instead of resting after giving birth. She was nine months pregnant when she suddenly went into labour during a live show.

Rather than disrupt the show, she quietly went backstage, cut the umbilical cord with a sharp stone and delivered the child herself. After bandaging her wounds, she returned straight to the stage to present a lavani. When the audience learned of this, they were astonished and, to show their respect, had the show stopped on the spot.

Vithabai was honoured twice by the President, in 1957 and 1990, for her contribution to the arts. She also received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. The Maharashtra government now gives awards to folk artistes in her name.