Malati Madhava (Cast 02)
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Publisher
National School of Drama, New Delhi
Abstract
Malati Madhava is a classical Sanskrit play by Mahakavi Bhavabhuti that explores themes of love, separation, sacrifice, and destiny through the romantic journey of Malati and Madhava. This student production by the National School of Drama presents the text through a contemporary theatrical idiom while retaining the emotional depth and poetic richness of the original work, integrating music, movement, and stylized performance to recontextualize a canonical Indian dramatic text for modern audiences.
Description
Mahakavi Bhavabhūti (c. 8th century CE), one of the foremost classical Sanskrit dramatists of India, is revered for his profound emotional depth and philosophical intensity. A contemporary of King Yashovarman of Kannauj, Bhavabhūti is especially known for elevating *karuṇa rasa* (pathos and compassion) to great artistic heights. His celebrated works—*Mahāvīracarita*, *Uttararamacarita*, and *Mālatī Mādhava*—reflect poetic excellence, psychological insight, and a deep engagement with themes of love, duty, sacrifice, and moral conflict. *Mālatī Mādhava* is particularly admired for its intricate dramatic structure and lyrical portrayal of romantic emotion, firmly establishing Bhavabhūti’s enduring legacy in the tradition of Indian classical literature.
Citation
Bhavabhuti. (2022). Malati Madhava (C. R. Jambe, Dir.) [Student theatre production]. National School of Drama, New Delhi.
