Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- dramatic
- passionate
- melodramatic
- historical movie night
- bollywood marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an ambitious, visually flawless, and deeply enjoyable Bollywood historical epic, while noting that its romantic melodrama sometimes oversimplifies Ashoka’s transformation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film presents Emperor Ashoka’s life through lavish songs, romantic pursuit, and deliberately melodramatic reversals.
Ashoka’s experience of battlefield loss drives his renunciation of violence and embrace of peace.
The relationship between Ashoka and Kaurwaki is foregrounded alongside the emperor’s wars and transformation.
Santosh Sivan’s cinematography emphasizes broad landscapes, battlefields, royal settings, and grand production design.
Films like Aśoka, and why
Braveheart
lavish historical epic, battlefield spectacle, and moral transformation through war
Gandhi
biographical historical drama centered on an emperor’s political power and ethical awakening
Jodhaa Akbar
large-scale period romance combining musical spectacle, courtly intrigue, and national history
Movie Details
- Director
- Santosh Sivan
- Release Date
- 2001-09-13
- Runtime
- 175 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (172)
Cast
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Ajith Kumar
- Kareena Kapoor Khan
- Hrishitaa Bhatt
- Danny Denzongpa
- Sooraj Balaji
- Rahul Dev
- Gerson Da Cunha
- Subhashini Ali
- Umesh Mehra
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Brew, Sun Nxt, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Aśoka about?
- A lavish Bollywood reimagining of Emperor Ashoka traces a warrior prince’s passage from conquest and romance toward remorse and peace.
- What is Aśoka like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Aśoka as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Aśoka violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Aśoka as graphic.
- What did critics think of Aśoka?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an ambitious, visually flawless, and deeply enjoyable Bollywood historical epic, while noting that its romantic melodrama sometimes oversimplifies Ashoka’s transformation.
- Which films are like Aśoka?
- Films with a similar feel include Braveheart, Gandhi, and Jodhaa Akbar.
- How long is Aśoka?
- Aśoka runs 175 minutes.
- Where can I watch Aśoka?
- In United States, Aśoka streams on Netflix, Brew, Sun Nxt, Netflix Standard with Ads.
