ASHADHATIL EK DIVAS

This well-known play by Mohan Rakesh is about Kalidas and his lover and muse - Mallika. Emperor Chandragupta invites Kalidas to Ujjain to be his court poet. But he is torn between his love for his village and Mallika, and the grand opportunity to be at the king's court. Mallika convinces Kalidas to go and prove his mettle. Years pass. Kalidas is now married to the daughter of the emperor of the Gupta Dynasty while Mallika is waiting for him. By sheer coincidence, Kalidas and his wife land in his village on their way to Kashmir.

His wife meets Mallika, and surprisingly, proposes that she work with her as her maid. Power and sensitivity, material bliss and creativity, stoicism versus emotionality - these are the conflicts and layers portrayed in this play.