The iconic Marathi play (The Emperor of Actors) was written by the legendary playwright and poet V. V. Shirwadkar , popularly known by his pen name Kusumagraj
First staged on December 23, 1970, it is considered a milestone in Indian theatre. Shirwadkar drew heavy inspiration from Shakespearean tragedies, particularly
, transforming the figure of a fallen king into a veteran stage actor facing the "filial ingratitude" of his children. The Story: A King Without a Kingdom The narrative centers on Ganpatrao "Appasaheb" Belwalkar
, a Shakespearean actor who has reached the pinnacle of his career. Upon retirement, he makes the fateful decision to divide his entire estate and wealth among his son and daughter, believing their love will sustain him in his twilight years.
However, the "Emperor of Actors" soon finds himself a nomad in his own home. The play follows his heartbreaking descent as he and his devoted wife, Kaveri, face: Abuse and Neglect natsamrat written by
: Small domestic friction escalates into blatant disrespect and emotional cruelty from their children. Homelessness
: Eventually forced onto the streets, the couple struggles with the harsh reality of abandonment. A Tragic Soliloquy
: Throughout his suffering, Ganpatrao reflects on his life through poetic, spine-chilling monologues that mirror the grand tragedies he once performed on stage. Major Adaptations
The role of Ganpatrao Belwalkar is considered one of the most challenging in Indian drama, requiring immense emotional range. Natsamrat – the movie | myriadrantings - WordPress.com The iconic Marathi play (The Emperor of Actors)
However, articles about the legendary Marathi play Natsamrat are most famously written by scholars and critics analyzing the work of V. V. Shirwadkar (popularly known as Kusumagraj), the playwright.
Below is a comprehensive article about the masterpiece, written in the style of a literary critique.
No article on Natsamrat can be complete without mentioning the actor who immortalized the role of Appa: Dr. Shriram Lagoo.
While the play was written by Kusumagraj, its legendary stage life is credited to Lagoo. When the play finally premiered in the early 1970s (with Vijay Tendulkar’s help), Lagoo’s performance redefined acting in India. To watch Lagoo transform from a proud, roaring king to a shattered, weeping father was to witness magic. For over three decades, Lagoo performed Natsamrat more than 1,300 times. The role became his identity, leading many casual fans to mistakenly think Lagoo "wrote" the lines, though the credit always remains with Kusumagraj. Ramrao (Natsamrat): A tragic hero with a fatal
Unlike Shakespeare’s Lear who goes mad in a storm, Kusumagraj’s Appa retains a shred of dignity. His final act, dying as an actor, is a rebellion against meaninglessness.
While the script is a masterpiece, Natsamrat is forever tied to the legendary performance of Dr. Shriram Lagoo (and later, Nana Patekar in the film adaptation). Lagoo’s portrayal of Ganpatrao Belwalkar is considered the gold standard of Indian acting. Watching a master actor play a master actor losing his mind is a meta-theatrical experience like no other.
First performed in the 1970s, Natsamrat remains one of the most performed and revered plays in Marathi literature. Kusumagraj, primarily a poet, crafted a dramatic masterpiece that explores the tragic downfall of a legendary Shakespearean actor. The play’s enduring relevance lies in its exploration of how society discards artists once their utility expires.
Ramrao is often called “Marathi Lear.” However, unlike Lear, Ramrao is not a king but an “emperor of actors.” Both suffer from:
But while Lear dies in tragic recognition, Ramrao dies still acting—making his end more poignant: he never leaves the stage.