Asoka (2001 film)

As̅oka
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySantosh Sivan
Screenplay bySantosh Sivan
Saket Chaudhary
Abbas Tyrewala (Dialogue)
Produced byGauri Khan
Sanjiv Chawla
Juhi Chawla
StarringShah Rukh Khan
Ajith Kumar
Kareena Kapoor
Danny Denzongpa
Rahul Dev
Hrishitaa Bhatt
Narrated bySuresh Oberoi
CinematographySantosh Sivan
Edited byA. Sreekar Prasad
Music bySongs:
Anu Malik
Background Score:
Sandeep Chowta
Production
companies
Dreamz Unlimited
Arclightz Films
Distributed byDreamz Unlimited
Release date
  • 26 October 2001 (2001-10-26)
Running time
176 minutes (Extended cut)

171 minutes (India)

145 minutes (International)
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹13 crore[1]

As̅oka is a 2001 Indian Hindi-language epic historical drama film directed and co-written by Santosh Sivan. It is a dramatized version of the early life of emperor Asoka, of the Maurya Empire, who ruled most of the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BCE. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan as the titular character alongside Kareena Kapoor, Rahul Dev, Danny Denzongpa, Hrishitaa Bhatt with Ajith Kumar in a special appearance. It was produced by Gauri Khan, Juhi Chawla and Radhika Sangoi. The screenplay was written by Santosh Sivan and Saket Chaudhary and the dialogue by Abbas Tyrewala. It was originally released as Ashoka: The Great in India.

Asoka was widely screened across the United Kingdom and North America, and was also selected for screening at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews.[2] Also dubbed into Tamil.

At the 47th Filmfare Awards, Asoka received 5 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director (Sivan) and Best Actress (Kapoor), and won Best Cinematography (Sivan). This is also the penultimate production venture of Dreamz Unlimited.

  1. ^ "Aśoka Budget". Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  2. ^ Chhabra, Aseem (24 October 2001). "Hype 'n' Hoopla". Rediff.com. Retrieved 31 December 2008.