On February 6, 2020, Dayanand Sagar Institutions performed the play Ashadada Ondu Dina at the Sourabha 2020 State Level Intercollege Theatre Competition, directed by Renuka Bali and translated by Dr. Siddalinga Pattanashetty. This Kannada adaptation of Mohan Rakesh’s Hindi play Ashadh Ka Ek Din revolves around the life of Kalidasa, the great Sanskrit poet, and his complex relationship with Mallika.

Set in a Himalayan village, the play focuses on the emotional turmoil and sacrifices made by both Kalidasa and Mallika. Kalidasa, torn between his simple village life and his desire for fame and greatness, leaves Mallika to pursue success at King Chandragupta’s court. As Kalidasa’s fame grows, so does the distance between him and Mallika, whose life becomes one of solitude and heartbreak. The play ultimately explores the personal cost of ambition and fame, portraying how both Kalidasa and Mallika pay the price for his pursuit of greatness.