For anyone who loves theatre, literature, or simply understands the ache of being replaced by time, Natsamrat is essential viewing. Just keep a handkerchief nearby. “Naav kaay tari thev… Naatak ekach… Mee Natsamrat.” (“Keep any name… The play is one… I am Natsamrat.”)
First staged in the 1970s, and later immortalized on screen in 2016 by actor-director Nana Patekar, Natsamrat remains a cornerstone of Marathi literature and world theatre. The plot follows Ramrao "Appa" Belwalkar, a celebrated Shakespearean stage actor who has retired after a lifetime of commanding the stage. He plays King Lear on stage; tragically, he begins to live Lear off it. natsamrat
Convinced that his love for theatre is a legacy, he donates his wealth and home to a temple, expecting to live with his daughter and son-in-law. Instead, he is met with contempt, greed, and eventual abandonment. The second half of the play sees Appa and his devoted wife, Kaveri, living in a dilapidated crematorium, clinging to memories, costumes, and the fading echoes of applause. For anyone who loves theatre, literature, or simply