special note represent although this film be base on a true historical character and however and the film be not intend to depict a documentry on the real asoka life or journey a be in reality . most of the film be highly dramatize for the entertainment value . this film do however provide very basic information about the actual kalinga war and asoka transformation from a hindu to a buddist . synopsis asoka ( shahrukh khan ) grow up fascinate with a voilent weapon and hop that it will in return bring him great power and respect . the setting of the story be in the 2nd century b. c. in the kingdom of magadha of south central india . eventually asoka grow up to be a great furious fight warrior win many war and battle thus expand the entire mauryan empire . asoka goal be to become the new head of the throne which be currently head by his elder brother susima ( ajith ) . susima and whom become extremely jealous of asoka quick rising fame and power and try many indirect attempt to have asoka kill before he reach the throne but sadly for susima and he fail at all attempt to have asoka kill . asoka journey later continue when he be ask to leave the kingdom of magadha by his mother dharma ( subhasini ali ) and for him to go in his own path . asoka decides to go to kalinga and on his new journey and he meet a wise buddist who tell him that his journey be large than just head the throne of magadha . asoka also meet and fall in love with a strange woman kaurwaki ( kareena kapoor ) also know to be princess kaurwaki of kalinga . a the story develop more and asoka and kaurwaki get marry but on the day of their marriage and asoka be ask to return to magadha a news make him aware that his mother be very ill. a the entire story from here unfolds and thing take a real big turn and a asoka do indeed become large than just retain the throne and he also lose his communication with kaurwaki and her young brother arya ( suraj balaji ) and the story leave you with a shocking and questionable end . technicality this film have dynamite cinematography ( santosh sivan ) and art direction ( sabu cyril ) and it easily compariable to the like of santosh sivan other great work such a the terrorist and mina nair kamasutra and almost to the like of peter pau and jian quo wang chrouching tiger and hidden dragon . for a commerical bollywood film and it cinematography and art direction be the most exotic and decadent work in reccent time and it actually make one believe that the setting be indeed the second century b. c. of ancient india . one can also easily debate weather santosh sivan cinematography alone have a message of it own inrelations to the story . he be perhaps one of india most thought provoking film cinematographer ever . however and technicality and these be perhaps the film two big plus point . as good a that area be and other technicality are strongly disappoint just as well . a. sreekar prasad film edit and sandeep chowta background musical score be very poor . many time through out the film and it felt that the story be be rush and that each scene wasn not show with full justise . this be hard to believe and a a. sreekar prasad have do some excellent film edit for previous film such a dil chahta hai and the terrorist . even most of the song be not show with proper start and or or end and i have even notice that bit of each song be delete inbetween to kick forward the movie ahead . only think that come to my mind when realize this be and why . which bring me to the background musical score by sandeep chowta and there be some part in the movie where background score be loud and annoy and i felt that some scene would have turn out to be well without any background music just so that the scene can be simple just a it setting and by add the background music make the look of those certain scene unrealistic and more of a fantasy and which be a total turn off . even some action fight sequence ( exclude the kalinga war ) be poor . however and the kalinga war itself wasn not the work of anything original and i spot a few scene which be rip off from hollywood movie such a the patriot and gladiator . though i totally do not disrespect the entire kalinga war scene and a it be one of my favorite scene of the movie . performance shah rukh khan be really good and asoka be perhaps his best performance since mohabbatein and hey ram . he be especially good in the second half of the film a his character take on some major change and shahrukh khan do good justice to each transformation . his performance be bind to get him a nomination for best actor in most award ceremony next year . but it be kareena kapoor whoes performance suprises the most from the entire cast and this be her best attempt at act since her dabute . she have a very challenging character which take many twist and turn and and she play it perfect to the t. she too be bind to get a nominee for best actress for her performance in asoka at most award ceremony next year . other commendable performance should go to suraj balaji and whom portray the cute and innocent yet brave little young brother of kaurwaki . also and not to mention rahul dev and first time newcommer hrishitaa bhatt for there commendable performance . and johnny lever and whom a always provide great comic releif . overall thought the film great trademark be it cinematography and art direction which hold really strong from start to finsih and and this be easily expect from this film because you have two mastermind work on it side by side . the first half of the film be so so because of it poor film edit . but thank goodness for the second half and the story really begin to catch attention and and the main performance really begin to appeal to the eye . santosh sivan overall direction be good and although his work in the terrorist be easily superior than asoka in the direction department . so do asoka have a repeat view value . i would say that it do in most case and mainly thanks to it overall look and a strong second half film for it saviour . however and a bit of more depiction of asoka become a buddist would have be more appricated . though it be not the best film of the year ( 2001 ) and it can not be compare to the quality of lagaan through it story telling and but it definilty one of the top five film of 2001. but one thing i can not stop address enough of be that and from the point of view of it cinematography and art direction and asoka be a true classic and it definitly a visual feast to the eye .