Asoka the Great
“This is a story based on legends. Some characters, events and places have been fictionalized for greater dramatic appeal. This film does not claim to be a complete historical account of Asoka’s life. It is an attempt to follow his journey.” (actual quote from Asoka)
These are the words that launch Santosh Sivan’s 2001 historical drama film Asoka. Alas, this attempt has been wrongfully directed at one of Asoka’s love interests and later wives, Kaurwaki, and not at his actions following the Kalinga War or even how he came to know the teachings of the Buddha. In this movie, key characters have been largely fictionalized and the very nature of historical events reworked. The film does however almost precisely display the political structure of both the Kalingan and Mauryan Empires. A desire to enhance theatric appeal ultimately presides and takes centre stage over Asoka’s conversion to Buddhism and his legacy as emperor of Magadha. With this noted, the movie might not entreat those who take special heed of actual historical happening and who are guided by fact.
In the opening scene, Asoka’s grandfather, Chandragupta, can be seen removing all his worldly possessions. He is leaving his throne to his son Bindusara, Asoka’s father, to live a life of extreme nonviolence as a Jain monk, just as documented in his history (Encyclopædia Britannica, Vol. 21, p. 41). It is directly after this, that the movie takes a most unprecedented course. Takshila warriors are shown hastily navigating over a river while chanting only to be attacked by the submerged Magadha army led by Asoka. The native warriors are pulled into the water and slain by the fierce Magadha army.
Let us first examine what brought Prince Asoka to Takshila. Asoka had several elder half-brothers and just one true sibling, Vitthashoka. Suspicious and perhaps even envious of Asoka’s position amongst their father, his eldest brother, Susima, convinced their father to send Asoka to Takshila to control an uprising
These are the words that launch Santosh Sivan’s 2001 historical drama film Asoka. Alas, this attempt has been wrongfully directed at one of Asoka’s love interests and later wives, Kaurwaki, and not at his actions following the Kalinga War or even how he came to know the teachings of the Buddha. In this movie, key characters have been largely fictionalized and the very nature of historical events reworked. The film does however almost precisely display the political structure of both the Kalingan and Mauryan Empires. A desire to enhance theatric appeal ultimately presides and takes centre stage over Asoka’s conversion to Buddhism and his legacy as emperor of Magadha. With this noted, the movie might not entreat those who take special heed of actual historical happening and who are guided by fact.
In the opening scene, Asoka’s grandfather, Chandragupta, can be seen removing all his worldly possessions. He is leaving his throne to his son Bindusara, Asoka’s father, to live a life of extreme nonviolence as a Jain monk, just as documented in his history (Encyclopædia Britannica, Vol. 21, p. 41). It is directly after this, that the movie takes a most unprecedented course. Takshila warriors are shown hastily navigating over a river while chanting only to be attacked by the submerged Magadha army led by Asoka. The native warriors are pulled into the water and slain by the fierce Magadha army.
Let us first examine what brought Prince Asoka to Takshila. Asoka had several elder half-brothers and just one true sibling, Vitthashoka. Suspicious and perhaps even envious of Asoka’s position amongst their father, his eldest brother, Susima, convinced their father to send Asoka to Takshila to control an uprising