Asoka (2001)

Director:

Santosh Sivan

Writers:

Saket Chaudhary (screenplay)
Santosh Sivan (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 October 2001 (India)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

Only the dead have seen the end of war.

Plot:

The Epic tale of King Asoka's life.

Plot Keywords:

India | Hinduism | Jainism | Asia | 3rd Century B.c.

Awards:

2 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Shahrukh Khan	...	Asoka
Kareena Kapoor	...	Kaurwaki
Danny Denzongpa	...	Virat
Rahul Dev	...	Bheema
Hrishitaa Bhatt	...	Devi
Gerson Da Cunha	...	King Bindusara (as Gerson da' Cunha)
Subhashini Ali	...	Dharma (as Subhashini)
Umesh Mehra	...	Emperor Chadragupta
Sooraj Balaji	...	Prince Aryan
Johnny Lever	...	Magadha soldier
Raghuvir Yadav	...	Magadha soldier
Suresh Menon	...	Magadha soldier
Ajith	...	Susima (as Ajit Kumar)
Shilpa Mehta	...	Queen (Susima's mother) (as Shilpa A. Mehta)
Rajlaxmi R. Roy	...	Bar Girl (Aa Tayar Ho Ja)

Also Known As:

Ashoka the Great (India: English title) (USA)
Samrat Ashoka (India: Tamil title) (dubbed version)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

155 min (International version) | 180 min (uncut version) | UK:176 min | USA:169 min (director's cut)

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | UK:12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Film City, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Company:

Arclightz and Films Pvt. Ltd.

Trivia:

Shahrukh Khan wanted Aishwarya Rai to be cast in the role of Kaurwaki. However, the director, Santosh Sivan, wanted to cast an actress with whom he hadn't already been paired in a leading role. Shahrukh also recommended Sushmita Sen to play the singing dancer in the bar.

Movie Connections:

References Wo hu cang long (2000)

Soundtrack:

The Emperor's Theme

Asoka should be hailed as one of the better Indian movies

Granted, Asoka doesn't really bring anything new to Indian cinema but then when do many films? This film should be given its due in that its better than most Indian movies of the day - way better. Therefore immediate criticism is harsh.

The music first of all is...very cool. Yes, its not yr typical music of the Indian setting but if u listen, Anu Malik has done something very interesting with the classical instruments of the age. This music has an evolved feel to it, that actually serves the movie very well. Its was an ambitious move that the director pulled off. So many bollywood films have the same songs, the same formula, the same dreary uninventive sound - these songs were different sounding, even if they touched on the same typical subjects. And the lyrics are beautiful in a lot of them (granted not the 'tayar hoja').

the script wasn't amazing but far surpasses the embarrassing lines of some many other Indian movies but it served its purpose. the actions scenes were better crafted then most Indian cinema pieces - the use of cgi would have been tacky and poor - until we have an industry that can create a war scene on full scale its a bad idea.. Shah rukh khan did a good job, kareena kapoor was beautiful (and I'm not a big fan). no one acted cringingly as so many Indian actors do.

finally, yes, the movie may have achieved something more had it been historically correct, but u r warned as a viewer that the film isn't historically correct and some features are fictional. who cares? its still good cinema. not everything needs a wonderful sweeping message.