Revisiting Asoka: A Historical Period Piece
Subhash K Jha revisits Santosh Sivan's 2001 film Asoka, a historical period piece starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and others.
Santosh Sivan's directorial ventures are known for their luminous lyricism, as seen in his earlier work Terrorist, which evoked a poetry of passionate intensity amidst violence.
Asoka, however, goes further in terms of emotional and spiritual voyage, recreating the journey of the Mauryan king from aggression to compassionate Buddhism.
The film features sweeping narratives and monumentally alive visuals, making it a standout in Hindi films.
Recreating the journey of the Mauryan king Asoka from passionate aggression to compassionate Buddhism...
Author's summary: Revisiting Asoka, a historical epic.
- Director: Santosh Sivan
- Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Danny Denzongpa, Ajith Kumar, Rahul Dev, Hrishitaa Bhatt