The Great. Review on Asoka

ASOKA traces the life of the Emperor Asoka, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, who ascended the throne of Magadha in the 3rd century BC. To extend the boundaries of his empire, Asoka waged a bloody war with the neighboring 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.

The film stars Shahrukh Khan as Asoka. Shahrukh is an intense performer and today rules the worlds biggest film industry. He has combined mass appeal with an artists passion for creativity and experimentation. His Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayange recently became the longest running Hindi film of all time, only adding to the debate of who is the greatest Indian actor ever.

Speaking about the film Shahrukh said Asoka was just a name. A name embedded in my mind since childhood. Every Indian child knows the name Asoka. His wheel is on our flag; his seal is on our currency and his name echoes in our history and culture. That is all I knew of this Great Mauryan King.

The female lead in this film is Kareena Kapoor, she has already shown great promise in her short career, she belongs to the famous Kapoor family who have provided Bollywood with over three generations of actors. Kareena is the latest member of the Kapoor family to join Bollywood. It is evident that she is a very talented girl and should establish a place for herself in this very competitive industry.

Santosh Sivan, who is responsible for the cinematography, directs the film. Sivan boasts a range of national and international awards whichrecognize his ability as a director and cinematographer. Speaking about Sivan, Shahrukh said He has taken a true, historical subject, added his spice and has come up with one of the best fairytales ever to be made in Indian cinema.

Santosh Sivan wanted the music of Asoka to have earthy folk beats as well as have a contemporary feel. Anu Malik, the composer, has fused Indian traditional instruments like the sitar and the flute with western instruments like the violin to create unique sounds and rhythms for the songs. The album features a wide spectrum of songs from romantic ballads to upbeat foot-tapping numbers. There are 6 songs in the album and features singers like Abhijeet, Alka Yagnik, Sunidhi Chauhan, Chitra, Sunita Rao, and Shaan among others. Gulzar has used metaphorical words to give a sense of timelessness to the songs. The background score for the film is by Sandeep Chowta.

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 ones self. The ultimate kingdom of Asoka was the hearts of men.