UPSC Prelims 2021 question on Sanskrit Playwrights

Bhavabhuti, a major dramatist of the later Sanskrit dramatic period, was the court poet of King Yashovarman of Kannauj, in north India in 8th CE. He too wrote plays based on the Ramayana, such as the Mahaviracharita (Exploits of a Great Hero), which depicts the early life of Rama and Uttaramcharita (The Latter History of Rama), which shows the final years of Rama's life as written in the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana. Both the plays consist of seven acts written in the Nataka style. His third drama, Malatimadhava (Malati and Madhava), is a Prakarana play centered on the love story of Malati, the daughter of a minister and Madhavya, her beloved.

Hastimalla is a Kannada poet and playwright during the reign of Hoysalas.

Kshemeshvara was also a playwright.

Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.