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Asoka (Action Movie ,2001) Starring
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Synopsis
Whose destiny is greater than that of the emperor?
In self-imposed exile from the kingdom of Magadha, Prince Asoka is intrigued by an old man who informs him even Emperors are
'ordinary' and that his destiny transcends the crown and the throne.
2500 years after his death, Asoka the Great lives on in our memories. He towers over history as a symbol of peace and non-violence: a
burning torch that illuminates the path from war to remorse, from ambition to religion, from hatred to love.
ASOKA traces the life of the Emperor Asoka, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, who ascended the throne of Magadha in the 3rd century
B.C.
To extend the boundaries of his empire, Asoka waged one of the bloodiest wars in history with the neighbouring kingdom of Kalinga,
leaving it ravaged and devastated.
Confronted by the aftermath of his conquest, in which thousands lost their lives, Asoka is overcome by remorse. He renounces the path
of war and dedicates his life to spreading the light of Buddhism across the world.
ASOKA is a journey: the transformation of a youth from a beloved son to an obsessive romantic. From a man embittered by betrayals to a
ruthless warrior consumed by ambition. From a conqueror of lands to a conqueror of self. The ultimate kingdom of Asoka was the hearts
of men.
Whose destiny is greater than that of the Emperor?
The traveller's…when he completes his journey.
Review
Bollywood’s proverbial Baadshah Shah Rukh Khan returns to the silver screen with his much-hyped home production Asoka.
The film, directed by Santosh Sivan (of “The Terrorist” fame) is about the transformation of a callow youth (Asoka) from an obsessive
romantic prince to a callous plunderer who waged one of the bloodiest wars in history and embraced the path of Buddhism in the end.
The film, starring Kareena Kapoor, Rahul Dev and Hrishitaa Bhatt, is the story of the great Mauryan king Asoka (Shah Rukh Khan), the
grandson of Chandragupt Maurya and the son of Bindusara.
Asoka and his stepbrother Susima (Ajit Kumar), who is favored by his father, are the contenders to the throne of Magadha. But fearing
for her son’s life Asoka’s mother (Subhashini Ali) asks him to give up the struggle for the throne. This leads to Asoka’s self-imposed
exile from Magadha and his life in a simple village as the commoner Pawan.
Living in the village Asoka (in his new avatar Pawan) comes across the lissome skimpily clad village belle Kaurwaki (Kareena), her
brother and their bodyguard Bheema (Rahul Dev). After a few titillating bathing sequences Pawan and Kaurwaki fall in love. Without
revealing her his true identity Asoka marries Kaurwaki.
But Asoka has to soon leave for Magadha after he comes to know of his mother’s poor health. Little does he realize that it is a trap.
Behind him Kaurwaki and her brother are attacked in the village. When he gets back it’s too late and he gets the news of her death.
Furious Asoka vows to avenge the killing of his beloved. But he is attacked and fatally injured in a dastardly ambush.
Wounded Asoka is nursed back into good health by Devi (Hrishitaa Bhatt) who also averts an attempt on Asoka’s life by his stepbrother
Susima. Naturally Asoka marries Devi. But once the conspirators who want Magadha’s throne kill Asoka’s mother he loses his patience
and goes about killing all his stepbrothers.
Luckily one of his stepbrothers flees and takes refuge in Kalinga (then ruled by Arya). What ensues is the bloody battle in which
Asoka wreaks havoc on the neighboring kingdom of Kalinga leaving it ravaged and devastated.
Confronted by the aftermath of his conquest, in which thousands lost their lives, Asoka renounced the path of war and dedicated his
life to spreading the light of Buddhism across the world.
As one of the most expensive films made in the recent times “Asoka” is brilliant in patches but not in its entirety. Santosh Sivan's
direction and cinematography is sleek and polished (and gives a fairytale look to the film) but the screenplay and script could’ve
been more cohesive.
For instance, what prompts Asoka to go on a killing spree should've been better explained. Agreed that his mother's murder was the
reason behind his eliminating his stepbrothers, but no attempt has been made explain what was it that forced him to kill innocent
civilians.
Similarly Asoka's transition from a ruthless plunderer to a messenger of peace has also not been depicted in detail.
The fact is that the film, although a historical flick does not authentically depict the life and times of the emperor in entirety,
but just a fragment of it. Sivan seems to have taken a lot of cinematic liberty to intersperse the commercial ingredients in the
otherwise average story.
Shah Rukh Khan slips deftly under the garb of a power-hungry emperor and plays his part with total enthusiasm. His character is not
static but keeps growing throughout the story.
Kareena Kapoor, who is turning out as Bollywood’s latest sensation displays her emotive range playing Kaurwaki. Although the director
could have comfortably done away with those skimpy and revealing dresses that look completely forced and are no doubt a (welcome)
distraction for the viewers.
Danny Denzongpa is wasted in a marginal role although Rahul Dev leaves an impact more so because he gels into the role of Senapati.
As far as film’s music goes Anu Malik's tunes and orchestration are a mite too modern to match the film’s period theme. The good thing
is that all the songs have been picturised quite well by Sivan who literally brings about a riot of colors on the screen.
Overall, “Asoka” is a film aimed at a niche audience and won’t really appeal to the masses.