Natsamrat

Natsamrat is a Marathi-language drama that originated as a stage play written by Kusumagraj (Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar). First staged in the late 1960s, the play is considered among the most celebrated works of Marathi theatre. It centers on an aging stage actor who, after retirement, returns to his estranged family and confronts the complexities of love, memory, and mortality. The narrative unfolds through powerful monologues and candid dialogues that reveal the actor's past triumphs and present disappointments, while interrogating the costs of artistic life on personal relationships. The title, meaning "The Actor", underscores the central theme of performance versus real life.

The play has been widely produced in Marathi theatre and has influenced later works for its character-driven, introspective approach and its blend of tragedy and humor. In 2016, a film adaptation directed by Mahesh Manjrekar was released as Natsamrat. The film, featuring Nana Patekar in the lead role, retained the core themes of the stage play and was widely acclaimed for its performances and emotional impact, helping to introduce the story to a broader audience. The work is frequently cited in discussions of modern Marathi drama and is known for its notable dialogues and its exploration of aging, family dynamics, and the conflict between art and life.