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Asoka (film)
Encyclopedia
Aŝoka also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
: अशोक) is a 2001
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
epic film
Epic film
An epic is a genre of film that emphasizes human drama on a grand scale. Epics are more ambitious in scope than other film genres, and their ambitious nature helps to differentiate them from similar genres such as the period piece or adventure film...
and historical drama. It is a largely fictional version of the life of the Indian emperor Ashoka the Great, of the Maurya dynasty
Maurya Empire
The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in ancient India, ruled by the Mauryan dynasty from 321 to 185 BC...
, who ruled most of Southern Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. The film was directed by Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan is an Indian cinematographer, film director, and producer who has worked in Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi cinema....
and stars Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
as Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
and Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor , often informally referred to as Bebo, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career, Kapoor has received six Filmfare Awards, among nine nominations, and has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres; these include her work from contemporary...
as Kaurwaki
Kaurwaki
Queen Kaurwaki was a fisherwoman and later on became one of Ashoka's wives.Legends says that Kaurwaki was daughter of a fisher man. It is said that she led an army of females against Ashoka in Kalinga, after Kalinga had no males left to defend it...
, a princess of Kalinga
Kalinga (India)
Kalinga was an early state in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa/Utkal , as well as the Andhra region of the bordering state of Andhra Pradesh. It was a rich and fertile land that extended from the river Damodar/Ganges to Godavari and from Bay of Bengal to...
. Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
made a special appearance as Susima, brother of Asoka.
The screenplay was written by Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan is an Indian cinematographer, film director, and producer who has worked in Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi cinema....
and Saket Chaudhary
Saket Chaudhary
Saket Chaudhary co-wrote Santosh Sivan's Asoka and is the director of Pyaar Ke Side Effects, released in September 2006.-References:...
, the music was created by Anu Malik
Anu Malik
Anu Malik , born Anwar Sardaar Malik, is a famous music director in the Hindi film industry. Son of veteran music director Sardar Malek, Anu Malik made his debut as a music composer in the year 1977. After a considerable period of struggle, the 90's welcomed Anu with hits like 'Phir Teri Kahani...
and the dialogue by Abbas Tyrewala
Abbas Tyrewala
Abbas Tyrewala is an Hindi film storywriter, screenwriter, dialogue writer and director. After making his mark as a screenwriter and dialogue writer in early 2000s, with award winning films like Maqbool , Munnabhai M.B.B.S. , he made his debut as a director with a breezy romantic comedy, Jaane Tu...
. It was originally released as Ashoka The Great in India. The Tamil release title is Samrat Ashoka. Asoka is the maiden venture of Arclight & Films, established by Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla.
Plot
The film opens with a narration of historical context. Emperor Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya , was the founder of the Maurya Empire. Chandragupta succeeded in conquering most of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta is considered the first unifier of India and its first genuine emperor...
is giving away all his material possessions and taking Sanyas. His grandson, prince Asoka, claims his grandfather's sword. The Emperor explains that the sword is in fact a demon that, whenever unsheathed, craves blood without regard to friend or foe. He throws away the sword but the young prince reclaims and unsheathes it whereupon it (accidentally) slashes a couple of birds on a tree.
The film takes us a few more years ahead. Prince Asoka (Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
), now a brave youth, is battling the chief of Takshila. His generals inform him that his reinforcements have not arrived. Asoka figures out that his half-brother Susima (Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
) has deliberately withheld them, which is proved true, when Susima mentions this to the General, & has him executed. In spite of the odds, Asoka uses shrewd guerilla tactics to defeat the enemy. One observes that Asoka identifies readily with harsh battle conditions and derives pleasure from victory (and death to his enemies).
Prince Asoka returns to Magadha. But his father, King Bindusara, cannot show his pleasure. Susima's mother, the shrewd queen, has woven her webs around the King. A second attempt is made on Asoka, but he survives & as a mark of his bravery he seats on the Throne & challenges one of his step brothers to a duel in the arena. She plays a political maneuver, by saying the Prince has the guts to sit on the throne while his father is alive, where the other Queen Dharma is made fearful for her son Asoka. The gentle and somewhat gullible Queen Dharma, content with her son being alive in favor of ascending the throne, compels the prince to renounce his right and leave the kingdom to lead the life of a common man. The brave prince is naturally disappointed, but he accedes to his mother's wishes and leaves.
Asoka meets a lovely maiden Kaurwaki
Kaurwaki
Queen Kaurwaki was a fisherwoman and later on became one of Ashoka's wives.Legends says that Kaurwaki was daughter of a fisher man. It is said that she led an army of females against Ashoka in Kalinga, after Kalinga had no males left to defend it...
(Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor , often informally referred to as Bebo, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career, Kapoor has received six Filmfare Awards, among nine nominations, and has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres; these include her work from contemporary...
) and falls in love with her. Soldiers from the neighboring kingdom of Kalinga are chasing her and her little brother Arya. They are on the run along with their faithful general Bheema (Rahul Dev
Rahul Dev
Rahul Dev is an Indian film actor and former model. Dev is known for his unconventional rugged looks and chiselled features and appearances in action films. He was meant to make his acting debut as the main villain in Mukul S. Anand's 1997 film Dus but the director's death while the film was still...
). During one of the many ambushes by Kalinga soldiers, Asoka launches into the fray and skillfully defends Kaurwaki. Asoka introduces himself as Pawan (in accordance with his mother's wish). Unbeknownst to him, though, Kaurwaki and Arya are the princess and prince of Kalinga, fleeing from their home when the wicked Prime Minister assassinated their parents.
The Prime Minister is hell bent on ascending the throne. He launches various raids to find and slay the prince. In one such raid, a commoner sacrifices his children to save the prince, putting fake royal necklaces around them. The Prime Minister is given the fake royal seal and now prepares to ascend the throne. Princess Kaurwaki, Prince Arya and Bheema live in hiding and bide their time.
Asoka receives word that his mother is unwell. He parts from Kaurwaki, promising to return, and hastens to Magadha, only to find that his mother is quite well, and has discovered the conspiracy to remove him from power. The King, though, is still under the charms of Susima's wicked mother. He gruffly dispatches Asoka to quell a rebellion in Ujjain. Asoka obeys, but first returns to find Kaurwaki. Not able to find her, and not knowing she has gone into hiding, he is informed that they were slaughtered and shown the remains of the commoner's children instead. A heart broken Asoka attempts suicide, but is saved by Viraat (Danny Denzongpa
Danny Denzongpa
Tshering Phintso Denzongpa , widely known by his acting name "Danny" Denzongpa, is an Indian actor of Sikkimese ancestry working in Bollywood films....
), who on learning his true identity swears to protect him from all threats.
Mad with grief and anger, he embarks on a violent campaign of Ujjain. He fights with cold-blooded rage, without desire for his own life or the will to win, only to kill his enemy. News of his exploits travels to Magadha. Susima, now seething with envious rage, plants his brothers in Asoka's army. In the battle for Ujjain, after he had destroyed his enemy, his step brothers send in their soldiers to assassinate him. However he is saved in the nick of time by Viraat even as Ujjain is reconquered and annexed to the Magadha kingdom.
Asoka is taken to a Buddhist monastery to recover. He meets a Buddhist maiden, Devi (Hrishita Bhatt), who cares for him. Even here, Susima's spies attempt to assassinate Asoka several times. In one of the attempts, Devi accidentally kills the assassin, and in Buddhist tradition, no one will now accept Devi as a wife. Asoka marries Devi in return and returns in splendor to Magadha.
Susima and his brothers are wild with anger and envy and frustrated with their futile attempts to eliminate Asoka. They make their last political move, bribing the court astrologer to murder Devi (pregnant with Asoka's child). The plot fails and Queen Dharma is killed instead. Asoka, now angered beyond measure, kills Susima and all his half-brothers (except Sugrata, who escapes and seeks asylum in Kalinga). Asoka is now anointed Emperor, but carries the title of Chanda Asoka (Brutal Asoka). Devi, bent on swaying Asoka to peaceful ways, is shocked at this unbridled brutality. She informs him that she is leaving him. Asoka seems affected somewhat, but it does not prevent him from declaring war on Kalinga.
Princess Kaurwaki and Prince Arya reveal themselves in Kalinga along with Bheema, and brandish the royal seal. The Prime Minister is executed for treason. Princess Kaurwaki ascends the throne. She defies Asoka, citing his brutality to his brothers, and prepares Kalinga for war. She secretly pines for Pawan, but does not know it is indeed Asoka.
Asoka assembles a mighty army and marches to the battlefield. Consumed with rage (toward Sugrata, but directed now at Kalinga), he nearly kills Viraat. A terrible war is fought in Kalinga. The Magadha army suffers defeat initially, as Kaurwaki and a battalion of Kalinga women fight side by side with Kalinga soldiers. But the Magadha forces are rallied by a violent and merciless Asoka. The resulting battle turns the tide of the war and the Magadha army inflicts a cruel defeat on Kalinga. Not content with mere victory, Asoka's warriors raze everything and butcher everyone in sight. Sugrata is slain, as is Bheema while Kaurwaki is wounded.
In his chambers that evening, Asoka is informed by his brother Vitasoka (Madhu Varshitt), who has taken up Buddhism, that Devi has delivered twins, Mahindra and Sanghamitra. Asoka visits the scene of the Kalinga battlefield, where he suddenly discovers his horse, Pawan, who was supposed to be in Kaurwaki's possession. With a sudden surge of hope, he frantically searches for Kaurwaki. Asoka manages to find her in the battlefield where he has a heart-to-heart talk with Kaurwaki. He apologizes deeply for his action and Kaurwaki, in return, forgives him. They are, however, interrupted by prince Arya. He joins the war to fight for his kingdom and, unfortunately for him, is wounded fatally by several arrows hitting him on his back. With Arya dying in his arms, Asoka suddenly finds his victory empty. In his attempt to fulfill his goals, he realises that he only managed to be surrounded with more death. His enemies, his family, and even Arya, all dead, because of him. His grandfather's advice (about the sword) was right.
The film ends with Asoka throwing the sword at the same spot his grandfather had thrown it and embracing Buddhism. The final narrative describes how Asoka not only built a large empire, but spread Buddhism and the winds of peace through it.
Cast
- Shahrukh KhanShahrukh KhanShahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
as Asoka / Pawan - Kareena KapoorKareena KapoorKareena Kapoor , often informally referred to as Bebo, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career, Kapoor has received six Filmfare Awards, among nine nominations, and has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres; these include her work from contemporary...
as KaurwakiKaurwakiQueen Kaurwaki was a fisherwoman and later on became one of Ashoka's wives.Legends says that Kaurwaki was daughter of a fisher man. It is said that she led an army of females against Ashoka in Kalinga, after Kalinga had no males left to defend it... - Ajith KumarAjith KumarAjith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
as Susima - Danny DenzongpaDanny DenzongpaTshering Phintso Denzongpa , widely known by his acting name "Danny" Denzongpa, is an Indian actor of Sikkimese ancestry working in Bollywood films....
as Viraat - Rahul DevRahul DevRahul Dev is an Indian film actor and former model. Dev is known for his unconventional rugged looks and chiselled features and appearances in action films. He was meant to make his acting debut as the main villain in Mukul S. Anand's 1997 film Dus but the director's death while the film was still...
as Bheema - Hrishita Bhatt as Devi
- Johnny LeverJohnny LeverJohn Prakasa Rao Janumala famously known as Johnny Lever is an Indian film actor and comedian. He was born to Prakash Rao Janumala and Karunamma Janumala and brought up in Mumbai. He started his career in 1984 and has acted in over 350 Bollywood films...
as Magadha soldier - Raghuvir YadavRaghuvir YadavRaghubir Yadav is a two-time International Award winner Indian stage, film and television actor, music composer, singer and set designer.-Biography:...
as Magadha soldier - Suresh MenonSuresh Menon-Career:Menon has appeared in movies including Phir Hera Pheri, Partner, Fool N Final, Krazzy 4, Deewane Huye Pagal, Chalte Chalte, God Only Knows, Dil To Pagal Hai and Hello. Additionally, he has made an appearance on the television show Comedy Circus...
as Magadha soldier - Shweta MenonShweta MenonShweta Menon is an Indian model, film actress and television anchor. She has predominantly acted in Hindi and Malayalam language films, besides appearing in a number of Tamil productions....
as Nandaneshwari - Gayatri JayaramanGayatri JayaramanGayatri Jayaraman is an Indian film actress, who has appeared in predominantly Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam language films.-Early life:Gayatri Jayaraman was born on 27 September 1984 to Jayaraman, an auditor, and Chitra, a housewife. She was educated at Adarsh Vidyalaya and then Church Park in Mumbai...
in an item number - Suresh OberoiSuresh OberoiSuresh Oberoi is an Indian actor who is also father of Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi. He was born in Quetta, now Pakistan and is a recipient of 1987 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor...
as Narrator
Production
Shahrukh KhanShahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
originally requested that Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is an Indian film actress. She worked as a model before starting her acting career, and ultimately won the Miss World pageant in 1994...
be cast opposite him but Sivan
Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan is an Indian cinematographer, film director, and producer who has worked in Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi cinema....
picked Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor , often informally referred to as Bebo, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career, Kapoor has received six Filmfare Awards, among nine nominations, and has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres; these include her work from contemporary...
because she had not previously been paired with the actor.
The elaborate final battle scene employed over six thousand extras. Some of the actors portraying warriors in the movie were masters of Kalari, who used their expertise. They were the only ones to use real weapons in the filming. The song "Raat Ka Nasha" was picturised at Bhedaghat
Bhedaghat
Bhedaghat is a town and a nagar panchayat in Jabalpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is situated by the side of river Narmada and is approximately 20 km from Jabalpur city...
in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
amidst the Narmada River.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack features 7 songs composed by Anu MalikAnu Malik
Anu Malik , born Anwar Sardaar Malik, is a famous music director in the Hindi film industry. Son of veteran music director Sardar Malek, Anu Malik made his debut as a music composer in the year 1977. After a considerable period of struggle, the 90's welcomed Anu with hits like 'Phir Teri Kahani...
and all the songs in the movie became a big hit of that time. Gulzar
Gulzar (lyricist)
Sampooran Singh Kalra , known popularly by his pen name Gulzar , is an Indian poet, lyricist and director. He primarily writes in Hindi-Urdu and has also written in Punjabi and several dialects of Hindi such as Braj Bhasha, Khariboli, Haryanvi and Marwari.Gulzar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in...
penned the lyrics for 6 of the songs while 1 song was written by Anand Bakshi
Anand Bakshi
Anand Bakshi was a popular Indian poet and lyricist.-Early days:Anand Bakshi was born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, on 21 July 1930. His ancestors were from Kurree, near Rawalpindi, and had origins in Kashmir. His mother, Sumitra, died 1940, when he was 10...
.
Track listing
- "San Sanana" (5:52)—Alka YagnikAlka YagnikAlka Yagnik is an Indian singer who is ranked among the best Hindi playback singers of all time. She is a seven-time winner of the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award as well as a two-time recipient of the prestigious National Film Awards...
, Hema Sardesai - "Raat Ka Nasha" (5:10)—ChitraK. S. ChithraK. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films...
- "Roshni Se" (6:54)—Abhijeet, Alka Yagnik
- "O Re Kanchi" (5:33)—Alka YagnikAlka YagnikAlka Yagnik is an Indian singer who is ranked among the best Hindi playback singers of all time. She is a seven-time winner of the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award as well as a two-time recipient of the prestigious National Film Awards...
, ShaanShaan (singer)Shaan , is an Indian playback singer, and television host. He hosted the shows Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs, Star Voice of India and "Star Voice of India 2"... - "Raat Ka Nasha (Duet Version)" (5:10)—Abhijeet, ChitraK. S. ChithraK. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films...
- "Aa Tayar Hoja" (6:07)—Sunidhi ChauhanSunidhi ChauhanSunidhi Chauhan is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi film songs in Bollywood. She has also recorded songs for Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese and Gujarati films and is credited with over 2000 songs....
- "Asoka Theme" (3:57)—Instrumental
Sandeep Chowtha was the guest composer for the instrumental piece 'Asoka theme'.
Reception
- The film grossed $2 million at the box office.
- The movie was criticized for its derogatory portrayal of the emperor and the emphasis on Kaurwaki's role in bringing him to Buddhism (historically, Asoka's Buddhist queen, Devi, had a greater impact on him - Kaurwaki was in fact a fisherwoman). It was however praised for performances by the lead actors particularly Shah Rukh Khan, the spectacular visuals, cinematography and the battle scenes in the climax. At the box office however the film failed to make an impact.
Awards
- International Indian Film Academy AwardsInternational Indian Film Academy AwardsThe International Indian Film Academy Awards, also known as the IIFA Awards are presented annually by the International Indian Film Academy to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in Bollywood, the Hindi language film industry. Instituted in 2000, the ceremony is held in...
' Best Cinematography - Santosh Sivan - IIFA Awards' Best Actor (Critics) - Shahrukh KhanShahrukh KhanShahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
- Filmfare AwardsFilmfare AwardsThe Filmfare Awards are presented annually by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Hindi language film industry of India. The Filmfare ceremony is one of the oldest and most prominent film events given for Hindi films in India. The awards were...
' Best Cinematography - Santosh Sivan - Ajith KumarAjith KumarAjith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
Nominated as: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative RoleZee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative RoleThe Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Negative Role is chosen by a jury organized by Zee Entertainment Enterprises, and the winner is announced at the ceremony.Kajol was the first woman to win this award.The winners are listed below:-...
Hindi film
The film further received four Filmfare
Filmfare
Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...
nominations, including Best Film and Best Actress for Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor , often informally referred to as Bebo, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career, Kapoor has received six Filmfare Awards, among nine nominations, and has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres; these include her work from contemporary...
.