Being the first play of Kalidasa, 'Malavikagnimitra' has more of the young enthusiastic writer's sense of fun, play and intrigue than the superb imagery and poetic expressions his later works display. Kalidasa was a court poet and the play reveals his first- hand experience of the intrigue and cunning, the jealousy, love and valour that rage behind royal curtains.

Scholars are not quite unanimous about the time and date of Kalidasa. From the 6th Century B.C. to the 10th Century A.D. various dates are proved and disproved to be the period Kalidasa lived in. But when it comes to Kalidasa's writings, there are no two opinions. They are unanimously considered exquisite.

The poet's more memorable works are 'Abhijnana Shakuntala', 'Ritusamhara', 'Raghuvamsha', 'Kumarasambhava', 'Vikramoravashiya' and the famous 'Meghadoota' a matchless work of poetry. Kalidasa is respected all over the world as one of the greatest poets and playwrights. Some of his works have been translated into almost all the major languages of the world.