The Theme Of The Film:
The Legendary hero Asoka portrayal in this film is directionless and what Director and the Producer is trying to Narrate was diversion from the main theme of the film life of Asoka the great king in those times. The film theme lacked comprehensiveness and factual depiction of Asoka’s life is also more or less commercialized.
This historic lucrative package proved unsuccessful to wooed the heart of audience completely.
The major setback for this movie was-it’s comparison with the Oscar nominated Lagaan who successfully wooed the heart of audience.
Major Flaws In The Film:
· The audience was left puzzled in the end and many questions left unanswered like what happened next to king Asoka and Kaurvaki(his love) and What Asoka did After Kalinga war etc.
· The sensitiveness of this subject was not fully dealt with.
· The film Asoka lacks style and vision to impart us the lesson and mission of the king asoka for which his name has been immortalized in Indian history.
The Star Cast:
· This multi-star movie has got big stars who has done justice to their roles.
· The main lead is perfomed by the Actor turned Producer Shahrukh Khan who has tried his level best to do justice to this role.
· In the main lady lead Kareena-kapoor has played the character of Queen Kaurvaki. And energy and acting skill of kareena hast exploited fully by the Director and she has given best performance in the battle-scene .
· The heart-throb of this movie is the character named Rahul played by a cute kid.
· All other performers has done justice to their roles.
Strengths:
· The music of this movie is composed very well .And the music-director has tried his best to used those musical-instruments which were in-vogue during those times.
· The cinematography of this film is it’s another plus point.
· The situational theme of war is upto the mark.
But the historic subject based on these kind of themes should be carefully dealt with and the Script Should be bold and informative enough to shed light on the other Mysterious angles of Asokan life.
It is not the case that the film ASOKA is the first Indian movie based on the historic subject. The CROWNED GEMS of Indian Cinema are-MUGHAL-E-AZAM , TAJMAHAL , SIKANDER .
Reasons Why This Movie Was A Failure:
In my view what audience had expected from this movie was an Informative Insight into the Life of the Immortal King Of Indian History-ASOKA.
But what audience got was the a Commercialised packet full of blips and booms in bollywood style. As throughout the movie more emphasis was paid on the portrayal of king asoka and his lady-love kaurvaki . And eventually the movie ended with their Re-union in the battle-field.
Even the most difficult situation of Asokan life such as- choice between throne and monkhood, after kalinga war the condition of asoka, were somehow narrated successfully.
And it’s a hightime that Bollywood Moviemaker must realize the gravity of these subjects and should try to do full justice to these themes.
We must not forgot one thing that the mainstream cinema is an important link in Cultural and Social perspective and movies based on Religious and Historical subjects furthered the message of Universal brotherhood and Communal harmony among all .
A Glimpse into Asoka Life History:
· The king Asoka was the Mauryan King and Grandson of Great King Chandragupta Maurya.
· The origin of the Mauryans is Obscure but we have many sources like Accounts of Foreigners like-Justin, Pliny And Strabo etc.Buddhist And Jains sources, Inscriptions of other rulers like- inscription of Rudradaman-1(saka ruler) and Chandgiri and Bhadrabahu Caves.
· The lineage of Maurayan Kings is not Known also. But in Divyavadana King Bindusara and King Asoka called themselves as kshtriyas and Buddhists Scriptures also support this view as king Asoka was the ardent Follower of Buddhism and Did a lot to propagate Buddhism to the outside world and Buddha Himself belonged to the Kshtriya Clan.
· King Asoka was the First Indian Ruler to Issues Edicts.
· The major sources of information about Asoka life are his Incriptions.
A Glimpse Into Asoka’s Incriptions:
· In 1837, James Princep decipherd his Inscriptions (Brahmi script)on the basis of comparative study and frequent use of some words in Sanchi Inscriptions and Indo-Greek Coins.
· Major Rock Edict 13 Mentioned conquest of Kalinga 8 years after his Coronation(261B.C.) .It mentioned names of Friendly Foreign Rulers.
· In his Bhabru Edict he publicly expresses his faith in Buddha, Buddhism and Sangha.
· Allahabad Pillar Edict Mentioned names of his queen Kaurvaki And Son Tevara.
· At Lumbini Minor Pillar Edict , he showed his respect to Buddhism by scrapping religious taxes and reducing land-tax(major source of income for a kingdomin those times) to one-eighth.
· Asoka name is Immortalised in Indian History as he had sent Missionaries to various parts of the world for the propagation of Buddhism.
· Asoka Enunciated the concept of DHAMMA. His Dhamma was not any particular religion but it included basic social norms, social behaviour, moral and ethical pratices.
· Buddisht works presented him as Kamasoka , Chandasoka(ferocious nature) and then Dharmasoka.
· After Kalinga War he resolved to abandon the military conquest forever.
That’s all folks !!
Thanks !!