Who among the following was the author of the famous Sanskrit work

Who among the following was the author of the famous Sanskrit work ‘Mrichchhakatika’?

Kalidasa
Bhasa
Valmiki
Shudraka
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2023
‘Mrichchhakatika’ (The Little Clay Cart) is one of the most famous and celebrated plays of ancient Indian literature. It is a Prakrit/Sanskrit drama attributed to Shudraka. The play is a ten-act *Prakarana* (a type of drama) focusing on the love story between a Brahmin merchant named Charudatta and a courtesan named Vasantasena, intertwined with political intrigue.
‘Mrichchhakatika’, the famous Sanskrit play, was authored by Shudraka.
Unlike many other surviving Sanskrit dramas which are often mythological or epic in theme, ‘Mrichchhakatika’ stands out for its portrayal of everyday life, diverse characters (including courtesans, thieves, and gamblers), and social commentary. Kalidasa is famous for plays like ‘Abhijnanashakuntalam’, Bhasa for plays like ‘Swapnavasavadattam’, and Valmiki is the author of the epic ‘Ramayana’.