Kalidasa, perhaps the most extraordinary of India's classical poets, composed seven major works: three plays, two epic poems and two lyric poems. According to legend, he lived at the end of the fourth century, and was one the 'nine jewels' in the court of the Gupta king Chandragupta II. Although very little is known about his life, Kalidasa's popularity has endured for centuries.
Believed to be Kalidasa's first work, Malavikagnimitram is the love story of King Agnimitra and the court dancer Malavika. The tale unfolds through humorous palace interludes, vivid descriptions of fine arts and the cunning machinations of court players. Even in this early work, Kalidasa's characteristic penchant for romance, art and natural beauty is evident at every delightful turn of the plot. He transforms a simple tale of forbidden love into an engrossing courtly drama filled with beauty, humour and wit.
Srinivas Reddy's engaging translation captures to perfection the joyous vigour of the young dramatist's voice.
'A real pleasure to read . . . [Reddy's] translation restores a light deftness to Kalidasa's play . . . We are able to enjoy [the] simple joys of cunning Brahmins, lustful kings, playful and flirtatious young women, spurned lovers and jealous queens . . . The dialogue weaves and dips between direct responses, poetic double entendre, innocence and mischief. Reddy captures all this in an easy contemporary idiom, his verse translations sing sweetly even as his prose is appropriately laconic and lucid''[Reddy's] illuminating introduction leads smoothly into the poem-play . . . [He] has done justice to the talent of young Kalidasa'
