Little Clay Cart

The Little Clay Cart is, for Sanskrit theatre, atypically romantic, funny, and thrilling. This most human of Sanskrit plays is Shakespearian in its skilful drawing of characters and in the plots direct clarity. One of the earliest Sanskrit dramas, Little Clay Cart was created in South India, perhaps in the seventh century CE. Set in the city of Ujjain, so secular and universal is the story that it can be situated in any society, and it has, including in Bollywood film and by the BBC. Charudatta, a bankrupt married merchant, is extramaritally involved with a wealthy courtesan, Vasntasena. The kings vile brother-in-law, unable to win Vasntasenas love, strangles her, and accuses Charudatta. The court decides the case hastily, condemning Charudatta to death. Fortunately, our heroine rises from the dead to save her beloved, and all applaud their love. At this climax, the regime changes, and the rebel-turned-king makes Charudatta lord of an adjacent city.