Malavikagnimitram

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.


Srinivas Reddy began studying Sanskrit with his grandfather. Later he trained in classical South Asian languages and literatures at Brown University and University of California, Berkeley. In 2010 his translation of Krishnadevaraya's Telugu epic Amuktamalyada was published as the Penguin Classic The Giver of the Worn Garland. Srinivas is also a concert sitarist and has given numerous recitals around the world. He now lives in Ahmedabad and teaches at IIT Gandhinagar.

Her left hand rests on her hip, the bangle motionless at her wrist while the other arm falls freely like a fig branch. Lowering her eyes to the tiled floor, where her big toe caresses a flower, her curved body is more beautiful than her dance. 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.