| As̅oka | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Santosh Sivan |
| Screenplay by | Santosh Sivan Saket Chaudhary |
| Dialogues by | Abbas Tyrewala |
| Produced by | Gauri Khan Sanjiv Chawla Juhi Chawla Radhika Sangoi |
| Starring | Shah Rukh Khan Kareena Kapoor Danny Denzongpa Rahul Dev Hrishitaa Bhatt Ajith Kumar |
| Narrated by | Suresh Oberoi |
| Cinematography | Santosh Sivan |
| Edited by | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| Music by | Songs: Anu Malik Background Score: Sandeep Chowta |
Production companies | Dreamz Unlimited Arclightz Films |
| Distributed by | Dreamz Unlimited |
Release date |
|
Running time | 176 minutes (Extended cut) 171 minutes (India) 145 minutes (International) |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹12.5crore[1] |
| Box office | est.₹28crore[1] |
As̅oka is a 2001 IndianHindi-languageepichistorical drama film directed and co-written bySantosh Sivan. It is a dramatized version of the early life of emperorAshoka, of theMaurya Empire, who ruled most of theIndian subcontinent in the3rd century BCE. The film starsShah Rukh Khan as the titular character alongsideKareena Kapoor,Rahul Dev,Danny Denzongpa,Hrishitaa Bhatt withAjith Kumar in his Hindi debut who made a special appearance in the film. It was produced by Gauri Khan,Juhi Chawla and Radhika Sangoi. The screenplay was written by Santosh Sivan andSaket Chaudhary and the dialogue byAbbas Tyrewala. It was originally released asAshoka: The Great in India.
Asoka was widely screened across the United Kingdom and North America, and was also selected for screening at theVenice Film Festival and theToronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews.[2] It was also dubbed intoTamil.
At the47th Filmfare Awards,Asoka received 5 nominations, includingBest Film,Best Director (Sivan) andBest Actress (Kapoor), and wonBest Cinematography (Sivan). This is also the penultimate production venture ofDreamz Unlimited.
The film chronicles the early part of the life of Emperor Asoka. It begins with his career as a general inTakshashila and ends with the bloodyconquest of the Kalinga.
EmperorChandragupta Maurya, grandfather of Asoka, of the Maurya empire, has decided to embraceJainism and abdicate the throne of the empire in favour of his sonBindusara. But his grandson, princeAsoka, claims his sword. The old emperor explains that this sword is evil, and the sword demands blood and destruction.
A few years later, princeAsoka, now a brave youth, is battling the rebellious chief of Takshashila for his emperor/father. He figures that his elder half-brotherSusima Maurya, who also has an eye on the throne of the empire, has deliberately withheld reinforcements from arriving, but defeats the enemy nevertheless. Asoka returns to the capital victorious and confronts Susima. Later, Susima tries to assassinate Asoka while he is bathing. The fight among the princes makes the emperor unhappy, and he orders empressDharma to control her son Asoka. She compels Asoka to temporarily leave the capital to lead the life of a common person. The prince is disappointed but leaves nonetheless.
Asoka, alone and disguised as an ordinary traveller, rides to the south. In his travels, he meets a lovely maiden,Kaurwaki and falls in love with her. He also develops a good relationship with her little brother Arya. They are on the run from theKingdom of Kalinga along with their faithful protector Bheema and are being chased by soldiers of the kingdom. After saving their lives, Asoka introduces himself as Pawan, hiding his true identity. Kaurwaki and Arya are the princess and prince of Kalinga, who fled from their kingdom when the prime minister assassinated their parents and took over power. Later, Asoka and Kaurwaki get secretly married.
Soon, Asoka is summoned by his mother, who sent a messenger to tell him she has fallen ill and to come to the capital. The emperor dispatches Asoka to quell a rebellion inUjjaini. Before marching to the west, Asoka travels to Kalinga to meet Kaurwaki and Arya. Unable to find them, and not knowing they have gone into hiding, he is informed by general Bheema that they were slaughtered. A heartbroken Asoka attempts suicide but is saved by Virat, who later swears to protect him. Mad with grief and anger, Asoka leads a brutal crackdown in Ujjaini. The assassins sent by Susima injure Asoka in a battle, and Virat saves him. He is taken to aBuddhist monastery atVidisa to recover.
There, he meets aBuddhist maiden, Devi, who cares for him. Asoka also survives another assassination attempt at Vidisa, this time with the help of Devi. Asoka marriesDevi and returns in splendour toPataliputra. Susima and his brothers are wild with anger from their futile attempts to eliminate Asoka. Emperor Bindusara, who favoured Susima over Asoka, becomes ill and dies. In another vigilante attack, empress Dharma is stabbed to death by assassins sent by Susima. Angered, Asoka wants to kill Susima but has second thoughts, and Susima is killed by Virat when he tries to kill Asoka behind his back and is appointed emperor.
A few months later, princess Kaurwaki and prince Arya return to Kalinga with Bheema and have the prime minister executed for treason. Asoka declares war on Kalinga, not knowing that Kaurwaki is alive. Kaurwaki still does not know that Asoka is Pawan, and both sides prepare for war.
A terrible war is fought in Kalinga. The Mauryan Army inflicts a crushing defeat on Kalinga. Not content with the mere victory, Mauryan soldiers butcher everyone in sight. General Bheema is killed after failing to assassinate Asoka realizing that he is Pawan and Kaurwaki is wounded. Asoka later visits the battlefield, where he discovers his horse, who was supposed to be in Kaurwaki's possession. With a surge of hope, he frantically searches for Kaurwaki and finds her. They have a heart-to-heart talk, and he apologises deeply for his actions. He is interrupted by Arya, who is dying after being pierced with arrows. With Arya dying in his arms, Asoka suddenly realises that his enemies, his family, and even Arya, are all dead because of him. His grandfather's warning about the sword had been correct.
The film ends with Asoka throwing the sword into the water at the same spot as his grandfather, and embracingBuddhism. The final narrative describes how Asoka not only built a large empire butspread Buddhism and the winds of peace throughout the empire.
As per the film's opening credits:
"I was dancing in a train for a song in a movie ("Chaiyya Chaiyya" on the sets of Mani Ratnam'sDil Se..) that Santosh Sivan was lensing, and he came up to me between shots and told me about Asoka," says Shah Rukh Khan. "I could only understand half of what he said but I could see the determination in his eyes, and that, somehow or other, he would make it with or without me. That's 80% of the battle won. I was hooked."[3][4]
The director, along with the principal costume designerAnu Vardhan, started working on the project two years before they started the actual shooting of the film. Though Vardhan agrees that there was no concept of wearing vests during that era, certain cinematic liberties had been taken because Shahrukh did not wanted to shoot shirtless throughout the film. "After all, it is a mainstream commercial film. During Shah Rukh's forest sequences, he wears square pieces of a blanket-like-material, folded into two and cut in between, to pass around the neck. Another piece of cloth was tried around his waist, acting as a belt. There was no stitching involved." Anu explains, "While researching for the film, we discovered thatbody art was a prominent part of that time. For the character of Kaurwaki (Kareena), we used different designs of tattoos." The armours and shields are worn by the artistes also form an important part of the costume for the final war sequences. Metal jackets composed of special fibre glass were made for around 4000 members of the cast. "These metal jackets are extremely light and comfortable and were made inMadras by more than 50 workers," she explains.[5]
"I also tried to give the different parts of the film different looks: for example when the viewer is taken toMagadha (Bihar), the temples and houses have been made using black granite while when we are inKalinga (Orissa) I have used brown sandstone and earth tones to generate a different feel. Also I worked with only six pillars in the film, it is hard to imagine that once you see the film", saidSabu Cyril.[6]
The film was shot at various locations, such asPachmarhi (the bulk of the romance between Asoka and the princess),Maheshwar (the palace intrigues ofPataliputra),Madhya Pradesh,Jaipur (battle scenes),Igatpuri andBhubaneswar (the Kalinga portions). More than half the film was shot indoors on the studio floors ofFilm City andFilmistan.[7] The elaborate final battle scene (thebattle fought against the Kalingas) employed over six thousand extras and hundreds ofelephants. Some of the actors portraying warriors in the film weremasters 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 atBhedaghat and Panchmarhi inJabalpur, Madhya Pradesh amidst theNarmada River.[2][6][8]
The film is also known for using minimal special effects.[7] WhileLagaan was made at considerable expense,Asoka had only a moderate budget. Sivan says he didn't want any special effects, and no digitally augmented crowds.[3]Priyanka Chopra turned down the offer to appear in a song in the film.[9]
| Asoka: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
|---|---|
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 28 September 2001 |
| Genre | Filmi World Music |
| Length | 38:23 |
| Label | Sony Music |
| Producer | Anu Malik |
The songs of the movie were composed byAnu Malik.[10] Initially,A. R. Rahman was signed in to compose the film's music,[11] but for reasons unknown, he opted out. Malik stepped in to compose the songs, whileSandeep Chowta was brought on board for the background score.Gulzar wrote the lyrics for five songs, while one song was written byAnand Bakshi ("San Sanana"). The soundtrack was very successful and according to the Indian trade websiteBox Office India, with around 1,500,000 units sold, the album was one of the year's the highest-selling.[12]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "San Sanana - Jaa Re Pawan" | Alka Yagnik,Hema Sardesai | 5:54 |
| 2. | "Raat Ka Nasha" | K. S. Chithra and chorus | 5:12 |
| 3. | "Roshini Se" | Zubeen Garg,Alka Yagnik,Abhijeet Bhattacharya | 6:40 |
| 4. | "O Re Kanchi" | Shaan,Suneeta Rao, Alka Yagnik | 5:47 |
| 5. | "Raat Ka Nasha (Duet) (not in the film)" | K. S. Chithra, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and chorus | 5:14 |
| 6. | "Aa Tyaar Hoja" | Sunidhi Chauhan, Chorus | 6:09 |
| 7. | "Asoka Theme" | Instrumental | 4:01 |
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "San Sanana" | K. S. Chithra,Hema Sardesai | 5:54 |
| 2. | "Thaanguma Kanaakalin" | K. S. Chithra and chorus | 5:12 |
| 3. | "Mogathile Kannirandum" | Zubeen Garg,Sadhana Sargam,Abhijeet Bhattacharya | 6:40 |
| 4. | "Adiye Aathi" | Shaan,Kavita Krishnamurthy | 5:47 |
| 5. | "Thaanguma Kanaakalin (Duet)" | K. S. Chithra, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and chorus | 5:14 |
| 6. | "Kaathirukudhu" | Sunidhi Chauhan, Chorus | 6:09 |
| 7. | "Asoka Theme" | Instrumental | 4:01 |
It opened on 26 October 2001, across 235 screens, and earned₹1 crore (US$120,000) nett on its opening day. It grossed₹2.87 crore (US$340,000) nett in its opening weekend, and had a first week of₹5.26 crore (US$610,000) nett. The film earned a total of₹11.54 crore (US$1.3 million) nett.[14] It was the13th-highest-grossing film of 2001 in India.[15]
It had an opening weekend of $800,000 (₹3.84 crore) and went on to gross $1.07 million (₹5.13 crore) in its first week. The film earned a total of $1.8 million (₹8.64 crore) at the end of its theatrical run.[14] Overseas, it was the4th-highest-grossing Indian film of 2001.[16]
Asoka was critically acclaimed upon release.[17] On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes,100% of 10 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.6/10.Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian called the film "a big, brash and deeply enjoyable Bollywood epic". He stated, "This movie's narrative gusto, its intricate, indirect eroticism – no sex, or even kissing – its lavish musical numbers and its sheer self-belief are a treat."[18]
Neil Smith described the film; "with elements of bothGandhi (1982) andBraveheart (1995),Asoka is a big, sprawling epic that looks every rupee it took to bring it to the screen."[19] However,BBC's Santosh Sinha noted, "It is at this point in the film [when the prince go into hiding as per the request of the mother Queen] that Asoka is temporarily lost and Shahrukh Khan the actor takes over. He meets Princess Kaurwaki in the forest and then chases her around in a typicallyBollywood way. He [Khan] is also less convincing when, grieved by the loss of life in Kalinga, he renounces violence and vows to spread the message of peace far and wide. This comes across asmelodramatic. Bollywood style, Asoka finds Kaurwaki and the young Prince Arya of Kalinga on the battlefield. Prince Arya manages a dying speech before he keels over and that breaks Asoka completely." Journalist, editor and film trade analystTaran Adarsh wrote that "director Santosh Sivan has chosen a historical subject, but added his spice and come up with a fairytale kind of a flick. As a cinematographer, Santosh Sivan's work is flawless."[20]
The portrayal of Asoka in the film proved controversial in India.[21] "Shahrukh's Asoka is all bluster and mannerism, with no depth. Except for the nosebleeds and the mudbaths, he is the same Shahrukh of every other movie that he has acted in. The film leaves its many complex moments unexplored and disjointed, choosing to pitch it as a love story instead of an epic tale of war and peace," an Indian reviewer wrote.[22]
Variety's David Rooney states, "a sprawling widescreen historical epic laced with Bollywood musical numbers, melodramatic romance, spectacular locations and violent battle scenes. Coming on the heels ofAshutosh Gowariker'sLagaan: Once Upon a Time in India,Asoka provides further evidence that Bollywood is poised for wider commercial impact beyond its already substantial established niche. And while the ambling, uneconomical nature of popular Indian storytelling makes major crossover business unlikely in this case, some degree of general art-house attention appears indicated. Khan cuts a dashing figure as a soulful hunk in the traditional Bollywood mould. At the same time, Kapoor plays ornately tattooed Kaurwaki as a lively mix of flirtatious coquette and feisty warrior woman, kind of likeJennifer Lopez meetsMichelle Yeoh."[23]Empire praised the movie gave it 4 out of 5 stars. It states,"Santosh Sivan may just be the man who provides that elusive Indian crossover hit with this rip-roaring historical adventure. The fact that Asoka was such a bloody warrior is no more ably demonstrated than when the battle scenes kick in near the end, it's likeAkira Kurosawa goes Bollywood."[24]
Critics generally praised the cinematography of Santosh Sivan.[21]
"Asoka had embraced Buddhism long after theKaling War, and yet, as far as historical accuracy is concerned, there's a surprising result: though the whole Pawan/Kaurwaki episode is fantasy, the film mostly avoids messing around with the known facts", wrote historianAlex von Tunzelmann.[25][7] There is also no historical evidence of a queen ruling Kalinga at the time of Asoka's invasion. The film also does not depict Ashoka's love forDevi.[25] The film also explicitly suggests thatKalinga was a democracy.[25]
StarPlus launched an extended miniseries version of the film, split into five episodes. It aired from 28 May 2002 to 25 June 2002.[26][27]
| Award | Category | Recipients and Nominees | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Cinematography | Santosh Sivan | Won |
| Filmfare Awards | Best Cinematography | Won | |
| Best Film | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | |||
| Best Actress | Kareena Kapoor | ||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Alka Yagnik for "San Sanana" | ||
| Screen Weekly Awards | Best Lyricist | Anand Bakshi for "San Sanana" | Nominated |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Alka Yagnik for "San Sanana" | ||
| Most Promising Female Newcomer | Hrishitaa Bhatt | ||
| Best Background Score | Sandeep Chowta | ||
| Best Cinematography | Santosh Sivan | ||
| Best Action | Shyam Kaushal | ||
| Zee Cine Awards | Best Film | Juhi Chawla,Shahrukh Khan | Nominated |
| Best Female Debut | Hrishitaa Bhatt | ||
| Best Villain | Ajith Kumar | ||
| Best Music Director | Anu Malik | ||
| Best Lyricist | Gulzar for "Roshini Se" | ||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Abhijeet Bhattacharya for "Roshini Se" | ||
| Best Female Playback Singer | K.S. Chitra for "Raat Ka Nasha" | ||
| Sansui Awards | Best Actor | Shahrukh Khan | Won |
