Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases


Asoka (2001)

Director: Santosh Sivan

Average user rating
3 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

An Indian prince, Asoka (Khan), wages war in the third century BC, kills his brothers and ascends the throne of Magadha - only to be overcome by remorse and to denounce war in the name of Buddhism. It's the preamble to his conversion that we see most of, and especially his love affair with the independent Kaurwaki (Kapoor, convincing despite the shampoo-ad visuals). Khan embodies brutality and passion, but has to contend with an awkward mix of tragedy and comedy, which frequently jars and undercuts the action. Where director Sivan's 1998 feature, The Terrorist, was an intimate, slow-moving drama shot mainly in close-up, this is all whip pans, moving cameras and 'Scope action. Wonderful to look at, when you get the chance. (The director's cut runs at 158 min, while the Hindi version and the Tamil dubbed version both run at 176 min.

Author: KW

Time Out Film Guide


User reviews of this film

  • usman khawaja said...
    Posted on Apr 22 2008 12:45 i saw this in imax and the version i saw had two songs and it was quite atmospheric and looked authentic with a great chemistry between kareena -sharukh ,end end battle and cinematography were amazing
    Report as inappropriate
  • usman khawaja said...
    Posted on Apr 22 2008 12:43 the festival version without songs is a really good take -i like kareena sharukh -they were good in don too ,i hope they do another movie together
    i think the movies of sivan are a bit too high brow for indian audience
    even terrorist was a disaster in india ,though celebrated abroad
    asoka is in the same bracket
    rather fot the western then indians
    Report as inappropriate
  • Anil kumar (AKM) said...
    Posted on Nov 10 2007 07:19 Sir,
    I have brilliant idea. My story will given inspiration (motivation) & every people helped who are troubled in life. Very lot of people are troubled own life. Problems is created day by day. I can’t finished but I can abate. I know properly how can do abate. Its my great pleasure if you give me reply. 09818629798
    Report as inappropriate

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields




Most popular on this site


Top Stories

Has David Cronenberg turned tame?

Has David Cronenberg turned tame?

Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?

The 10 worst date movies

The 10 worst date movies

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made

Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films

Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films

Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas

10 unlikely badboy biopics

10 unlikely badboy biopics

Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects

Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'

Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'

The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing

Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day

Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day

Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing