Asoka (2001)

8 out of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Good, well made movie!

A Customer from Manchester, 15th October, 2003

I admit approaching this movie with low expectations, but it turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise. Very slickly presented, and not quite the typical bollywood style movie.
In fact, it seems to be more of a hollywood type presentation of an historic tale, with the essential bits of hindi songs and romance thrown in, but at least the romance ties in with the story line.
I think this may have had a better chance at an Oscar nomination than Devdas did!
Also, really good sound with a home cinema, though I did find the DVD getting stuck at a couple of points, when I had to fast forward a bit...

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4 out of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Asoka

SeeJay from Kent, 23rd October, 2003

As someone who has a professional interest in Buddhism, this movie caught my eye. I wish it hadn't. It is too long. Don't misunderstand me: LotR: The Fellowship of the Ring was long, but it didn't drag. This movie does.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

bollywood u go!!!!!

A Customer from aberdeen, 23rd February, 2005

A really enjoyable film. Quite long but not like your usual indian movies, less singing more acting. Kept me glued until the end. Would recommend.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Ashoka: A Tale of Romance...

A Customer from Birmingham, 25th July, 2007

Although I enjoyed this, I agree it doesn't address Ashoka historically in terms of his influence on India after his conversion to Budhism. The story begins with Ashoka forced to leave his home and the possibility of wearing the crown. On his journey into the world he meets and falls in love with a princess who has troubles of her own. Ashoka is ever the gentleman, always there to defend and protect, and is really quite charming. This is the good side of him. Then events conspire against him and he loses the princess. Love turns to pain. Heartache turns him mean, a tyrant. When we get to the end and all is made well, the audience is left to presume the Budhist Ashoka will be as was before, when in love. This isn't the story of the historical Ashoka. This is a romance where the hero loses his way, but is then restored on finding his lost love. There is some singing, seemingly modern numbers which seem at odds with the 'historical' setting. But for what it is Ashoka is an enjoyable movie. Mainly a romance with some light comedy.

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Interesting

Navin1in from , 1st August, 2009

Nice film, good story line and good acting, would surely recommend.

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Asoka

Pawo from , 2nd May, 2009

If you think you're going to get some kind of historical drama that will give you at least a vague idea of the background and circumstances of the Buddhist king and what he achieved... then not here. This is a typical Bollywood love story with singing and dancing, if you have never seen a Bollywood film then its not a bad place to start. Much of it shot on location in Orissa and actual Buddhist and Hindu archeological sites it is very colourful and beautiful and the background music is great. There is very little explanation through the dialogue of why anything is happening, this is not important or the point of the film in the director's mind it seems. The battle scenes are amateurish copies of Chinese martial arts and laughable. Its just another Bollywood love story.

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Not enough biog

A Customer from Milton Keynes, 5th January, 2009

Asoka's life is much more than a lovestory. But hat is all this film makes of it

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Classic Indian film

A Customer from London, 26th December, 2008

This was about part history Indias heritage. It was above average once you got into it

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