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Asoka [2001] [DVD]
 
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Asoka [2001] [DVD]

DVD ~ Shahrukh Khan
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
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Customers buy this item with Devdas [DVD] [2002] DVD ~ Shah Rukh Khan

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  • This item: Asoka [2001] [DVD] DVD ~ Shahrukh Khan

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Asoka [2001] [DVD]
73% buy the item featured on this page:
Asoka [2001] [DVD] 4.1 out of 5 stars (17)
£5.89
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Product details

  • Actors: Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Danny Denzongpa, Rahul Dev, Hrishitaa Bhatt
  • Directors: Santosh Sivan
  • Writers: Santosh Sivan, Abbas Tyrewala, Saket Chaudhary
  • Producers: Shahrukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Mark Burton, Sanjiv Chawla
  • Format: Anamorphic, PAL
  • Language Hindi
  • Subtitles: English, French
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 12
  • Studio: Prism Leisure
  • DVD Release Date: 6 Jan 2003
  • Run Time: 150 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005UJAS
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 22,457 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Both stylish and stylised, Santosh Sivan's Hindi epic Asoka tells the heavily fictionalised but nonetheless compelling story of India's greatest emperor. In the third century BC the Mauryan king Asoka built a vast empire by means of ruthless conquest; but after the great Kalinga war he became sickened by the terrible slaughter he had caused, converted to Buddhism and dedicated the rest of his life to spreading peace and prosperity.

The film, though, concerns itself only with Asoka's rise to power, his love for the princess Kaurwaki, and his subsequent descent into brutality. Shah Rukh Khan is a brooding and temperamental prince who woos the lovely princess Kaurwaki (Kareena Kapoor) incognito and with the aid of the obligatory song-and-dance numbers. After a promising start involving mythic swords, heroic combat and King Lear-like sibling rivalry, the film falls into a familiar Bollywood groove for a while until events overtake the unlucky lovers and Asoka turns mean when he thinks his princess is dead. She in turn searches vainly for her handsome hero, not knowing his real identity; and when the tyrannical Asoka attacks her kingdom she leads her people against his armies in a near-genocidal war. The finale, after a wonderfully staged battle that employs 6,000 extras, is genuinely touching.

Throughout, the film works best when striving for a realistic tone, though the fairy tale romance and song interludes are doubtless contrived to please the domestic Indian audience more than cynical Europeans. It's a shame that Asoka's true greatness is never realised on screen, as the story ends before his momentous conversion, but as a film that tackles big themes with real visual flair Asoka nonetheless deserves to find a worldwide audience.

On the DVD: Presented in sumptuous widescreen (2.35:1) anamorphic format and in Dolby 5.1, the film can be viewed with or without English subtitles. There are also two short documentaries, in English, featuring interviews with the star and director among others. The five big musical numbers can be accessed all in one go or individually, while a trailer and picture gallery complete a good package. --Mark Walker

Special Features
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
Hindi
Region 2
Dolby Digital Hindi
Dolby Digital
Animated And Scored Menu Graphics
Trailer
Song Selection
Two Making Of Documentaries
Image Gallery With Radio Advert Soundbed
Main Cast Biographies
Director Filmography
English\French


See all Reviews

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A truly wonderful swashbuckling romance of epic proportions, 11 Jan 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Asoka [VHS] [2001] (VHS Tape)
Asoka, the story of the first all-India emperor who introduced Buddhism to the country, is a cinematic treat for anyone who has even a remote acquaintance with Bollywood films. It stars devilishly lovable rogue Shah Rukh Khan at his most naturalistic and commanding best as the emperor Asoka, and haughtily gorgeous Kareena Kapoor, Bollywood's latest superstar actress, as the Kalingan princess he falls in love with. The plot manages to combine typical Bollywood love-story-with-a-tragic-twist with a genuine - though liberally inventive - exploration and dramatisation of historical events. Asoka is the first real character of Indian history and as such, is seen as a nation-builder. The film certainly gives the impression of both the epic sweep of history and of the sophistication and breadth of 1st millenia BC Indian civilisation, and is lavishly photographed, designed, costumed and shot in every scene. The battle scenes - some of the best I've seen - are vast and not computer generated, with elephants fighting alongside footsoldiers, and the audience is not spared from grisliness of war. This is a film with a message: one learnt by the real Asoka and disseminated across his nation. War brings no benefits. Violence is evil. The violence in the film is given an ultra-realism and morality that Hollywood doesn't match, while you can thrill, at the same time, to the sight of a spear point within millimetres of Shah Rukh Khan's eyeball, or the sight of Kareena wielding a sword on the battlefield in defence of her people.
If you are prepared to settle in for the epic length, this film is a treat. It has fewer songs than the standard Bollywood fare, is more naturalistic, has marvellous cinematography including time-shift shots, two of the greatest modern Bollywood stars, and effortlessly sweeps you through its full three hours leaving you breathless and almost overwhelmed at the end.
I only don't give it five stars because if you don't like Bollywood, you might find its traditional Bollywood conventions a bit distracting at first. Otherwise it is cinema at its best from beginning to end.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "Why a sword in such beautiful hands?", 9 Feb 2006
I have a very poor opinion of Bollywood movies (most of which consist of half-naked women gyrating on screen, the set-location moving impossibly from Egypt in one moment to Switzerland in the next. Weak plots combine with goofy all-dancing/all-singing numbers, normally).
I watched this movie with much trepidation (I am of Indian origin, and am totally clueless of India's rich culture/history). This film just swept me away, words cannot describe the sheer euphoria that rushed through me when watching this masterpiece unfold. Lush locations, beauteous women clad in the simplest of garments, an intriguing plot with no end of twists and turns, interesting-looking weapons and fight-scenes, subtle humour, a blossoming romance. This is a sparkling gem of a film that rivals such others like 'Braveheart' and 'Gladiator'. Based on actual fact and history (along with a few legends), it tells the story of a mighty prince - Asoka (played with utter conviction by the infamous Shahrukh Khan), and his love for a woman in exile, his "Warrior" - fiesty Princess Kaurwaki (played by the charming Kariena Kapoor); believing that his love is lost, and angered by the murder of his beloved mother, Asoka slowly sinks into a consuming despair and dementia, and starts to "destroy everything", slaughtering innocents and conquering lands, in his wish to be "the greatest emperor on earth". This culminates in the great war he wages against his neighbouring kingdom of Kalinga (this movie, is in fact, dedicated to the people of Kalinga, who were hopelessly outnumbered and so brave in the face of adversity). Asoka, at the end of this bloody war, sees jarringly for the first time all the death, despair and hatred he has caused, and finally turns to a life of non-violence and peace, spreading Buddhism across the world. This is but the bare skeleton of the plot, there is so much more to this enchanting and beautifully tragic tale. This film takes its time to unfold (about 3 hours long), but one cannot help but enjoy every moment of it.
I am so in love with this movie; it is one of those rare ones that really capture your heart and enthrall you. This August, I turn eighteen, and, in possession of my own credit-card, will purchase several copies of this film from Amazon; one for me, the others for friends. I would give this movie more stars if I could; EVERYONE should watch this. Believe me, you won't regret it.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Great and romantic movie about buddhist history in India, 1 Dec 2001
By A Customer
I saw the movie in Calcutta, without sub-titles but it was fascinating anyway! The movie depicts an important part of buddhist history in India, and combines this with a touching love story. It is a real Hindi movie: with song and dance and no kissing; but so well played that is was not necessary to understand Hindi.
Real captivating movie!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and Moving!
Asoka was most defientley one of Shah Rukh Khan's best movies out! His acting is superb, he has a great range of skill and mastered the character amazingly well. Read more
Published 24 months ago by P.R

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Shah Rukh's best
I think that this film is alot better than many critics made out when the film was first released. I would definately say that it comes after Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Dilwale... Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2007 by Boo

3.0 out of 5 stars Hope the director sees this
I give 3 stars to be nuetral since I haven't watched the movie and decided not after reading the reviews. Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2006 by Amanda

4.0 out of 5 stars View for enjoyment
An enjoyable film, considering it does not pretend to be a historical reconstruction. Good photography and generally fine settings. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2006 by Thomas Dana Lloyd

1.0 out of 5 stars Bearable.
Overall, this is a pretty disappointing film, given the subject matter it is based on. The film only follows Asoka up to the point where he renounces violence and becomes a... Read more
Published on 16 April 2006 by David Welsh

4.0 out of 5 stars pure fantasy, bollywood ishtyle
Most of what people know about Asoka is pure fantasy. For example, it is widely believed that Ashoka, out of disgust and sorrow over all the blood he shed, renounces violence and... Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2006 by Jeffrey Lehman

2.0 out of 5 stars Another opportunity wasted !
The film is a standing testimony as to why India that was at the helm of the world during Asoka's period is now part of the third world. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2006 by wannabeseller

5.0 out of 5 stars Asoka The Epic
This is a classic - It started off like an arty Indian movie with stagey character acting (which can be off putting! Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2005 by Mr. Suchet Budon

4.0 out of 5 stars A great movie masterpice.
This film looks, soungs and is GREAT!
Shah Rukh is wonderfull, and although i'm not a Kareena fan, she is very good in this film. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2004 by Anita

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece
This is the first Bollywood film I have ever watched - and I must say I am very impressed. Completely different in style to any film I have seen before, this added a new flavour... Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2004 by Alezhi

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