Which three of the following plays were written by Sanskrit dramatist Bhasa?
A) Carudatta
B) Ratnavali
C) Urubhanga
D) Malavikagnimitram
E) Karnabharam
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is A, C and E.

Bhasa is one of the earliest and most celebrated Sanskrit dramatists of ancient India. He is best known for a collection of thirteen plays that were rediscovered in the early 20th century by scholar T. Ganapati Sastri. Let us analyze the authorship of each of the plays listed in the question:
1. Carudatta (A): This is a Sanskrit play written by Bhasa. It centers around the love story of a impoverished merchant named Charudatta and a wealthy courtesan named Vasantasena. This play later served as the foundation for Shudraka's famous drama Mrichchhakatika (The Clay Cart).
2. Ratnavali (B): This play was written by the emperor Harshavardhana (King Harsha), not Bhasa. It is a famous Sanskrit drama about the princess Ratnavali and King Udayana.
3. Urubhanga (C): This is a renowned Sanskrit play written by Bhasa. Based on the epic Mahabharata, it depicts the final battle between Bhima and Duryodhana, focusing on the crushing of Duryodhana's thighs. It is notable for being one of the few tragedies in classical Sanskrit literature.
4. Malavikagnimitram (D): This play was written by the legendary poet and dramatist Kalidasa, not Bhasa. It is a play portraying the love story of King Agnimitra and Malavika.
5. Karnabharam (E): This is a one-act Sanskrit play written by Bhasa. It describes the mental agony and character of Karna on the eve of the Kurukshetra war as he prepares to give away his divine armor (Kavacha) and earrings (Kundala) to Indra.

Since plays A (Carudatta), C (Urubhanga), and E (Karnabharam) were written by Bhasa, the correct combination is A, C and E.