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IMDb > Asoka (2001)
Asoka
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Videos (see all 4)
Asoka (2001) -- The Epic tale of King Asoka's life.
Asoka (2001) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   2,509 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 30% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Saket Chaudhary (screenplay)
Santosh Sivan (screenplay)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Ashoka the Great on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 October 2001 (India) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Only the dead have seen the end of war.
Plot:
The Epic tale of King Asoka's life. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
2 wins & 17 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Shahrukh Khan in a Tamil movie?
 (From indicine. 15 June 2009, 10:34 AM, PDT)

Anything For Shah Rukh: Santosh Sivan
 (From RealBollywood. 25 February 2009, 2:45 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
Asoka should be hailed as one of the better Indian movies more (89 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Shahrukh Khan ... Asoka
Kareena Kapoor ... Kaurwaki (as Karriena Kapoor)
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)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Ashoka the Great (India: English title) (USA)
Samrat Ashoka (India: Tamil title) (dubbed version)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for violence.
Runtime:
169 min (International version) | 180 min (uncut version) | UK:176 min | USA:155 min (director's cut)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Shahrukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor had to undergo training in sword fighting for their roles. more
Movie Connections:
References Wo hu cang long (2000) more
Soundtrack:
Asoka Theme more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
16 out of 24 people found the following review useful.
Asoka should be hailed as one of the better Indian movies, 18 June 2004
Author: soul_scion from London, UK

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.

Was the above review useful to you?
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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Asoka (2001)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
something that bugged me *spoilers* piyush_k_patel
Mention of Buddhism Brit-wit
'Kalinga is a democracy' - WHAT??? UniversalLove
enjoyed it but... tulz
how it ends xxnabzxx
Are there any musicals? badassjosh0076
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