Vaibhavi Merchant on Bringing Lavani’s Authentic Soul to the Big Screen in “Eetha”

Choreographing Eetha turned into one of the most fulfilling creative journeys of Vaibhavi Merchant’s career — and the reason comes down to the delicate balance between honoring tradition and scaling it for cinema.

Eetha: Overview

The Core Challenge: Staying True to Lavani

Merchant explained that Lavani has deep roots in rural Maharashtra, and the biggest hurdle was preserving that authenticity while presenting it on a much grander cinematic canvas. Working closely with director Lakshman Utekar, she focused on protecting the form’s traditional grammar and emotional core, even as the scale of production expanded well beyond its folk origins.

Building the Film’s Biggest Numbers First

According to Merchant, she choreographed all three major dance sequences in the film, and production intentionally tackled the most demanding one first. This approach relied heavily on extensive research, preparation, and rehearsal to ensure the choreography carried the right scale without losing its emotional weight.

Shraddha Kapoor’s Commitment Stood Out

Merchant had high praise for Shraddha Kapoor, noting that despite dealing with a minor injury during filming, she stayed fully committed to the physically demanding routines. Merchant described their collaboration as a genuine creative partnership, crediting Shraddha’s relentless rehearsal and dedication for how the performances ultimately came together.

What’s Still to Come

With only glimpses of the songs released so far, Merchant believes audiences haven’t yet seen the full scope of the work. She suggested that once the complete tracks are out, the depth of research and craftsmanship behind the Lavani sequences will become far more evident.

About Eetha

The film reunites Shraddha Kapoor with producer Dinesh Vijan following their Stree franchise success, and also brings back the Vijan–Utekar duo behind 2025’s blockbuster Chhaava.

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