Sheer Magic. Review on Asoka

It is a bit late in the day to review Asoka, but after reading the reviews on this board and on many others, I feel compelled to write one, to do justice to one of the best movies to come out of bollywood stable.

This movie has been mercilessly trashed for all the wrong reasons. Since everyone knows the story I will focus on the criticism and ridicule it has faced.

1.The film does not have historical authenticity. The character of Asoka has been treated in a cavalier and casual fashion

This criticism is based on the faulty assumption that the history that we read in the textbooks is true history. I have always maintained that all recorded history is 75% fiction, designed to show the rulers in a glorious manner. This movie on the contrary is at least 60% truth. Our history books only talk about the Asoka after the kalinga war, while this movie dares to portray the real Asoka, with all his human fragilities, his cruel and murderous nature and passionate encounters.

2.It is not a serious movie, almost like a nautanki with the character of Asoka doing disco-type singing and dancing.

And what about lagaan? – The movie loved and accepted by one and all. Is it plausible that a bunch of villagers could learn the game in just two months and be able to beat a professional team? And how is it that no one batted an eyelid when this group of farmers, sang an almost rockish song – Chale chalo with thumping percussions and anglicized voiceover of AR Rehman, supposedly over a hundred years ago?

Another ridiculous assumption is that when one is dealing with serious history, one should make a solemn and serious movie. Why? Did people 2000 years ago never indulge in singing and dancing? Are Emperors not normal human beings who can buffoon around and chase pretty princesses under waterfalls?

3.“Unnecessary display of flesh by Kareena kapoor” – “Camera focuses on her midriff” etc etc

So what’s the problem? No one complains when the camera lingers over beautiful landscapes and breathtaking sunrises. Isn’t that the purpose of cinema? - To capture beauty in whatever form it may be.

4.Shahrukh Khan acts well, but like SRK and not like Asoka. He doesn’t get into the skin of the character

Agreed to some extent. But then that is the persona of SRK and in every movie that he does he overshadows the character. And that is exactly the reason Mr. Khan was so perfect for the role. The character of Asoka being complex, it needed someone with a powerful aura and dynamism that only Shahrukh possesses and projects. Any other actor would have fallen short of expectation.

Valid Criticism

1.The songs are introduced in a haphardouz manner and do not gel with the screenplay. Especially Raat ka Nasha and Roshni Se appear totally out of place.

But the redeeming factor, apart from the superb choreography is that these songs and the background notes contribute to overall mood and magic of the movie.

2.The laughter track provided by Johnny lever & co is crude and vulgar.

Agreed.

Now for the reasons that make this movie special

Asoka is a visual treat with top-class cinematography. Santosh Sivan does a fantastic job, which is comparable to the best in the world.

The art direction and recreation of the period era is authentic and without the flashiness or gaudiness of usual bollywood attempts at historicals and mythologicals.

The characterization is perfect and each character from the child-artist who plays Kaurvaki’s brother to Asoka’s himself is well drawn. One realizes the significance of good characterization in epic movies, when one compares it to say The Lord of the Rings, where most of the characters remain in background, the result being a slightly dry and morose movie.

But Asoka on the other hand is full of revelry and humour. It is vibrant, magical and exotic. It has passion and romance (so what if it is bollywoodish?) which makes the movie highly entertaining and engaging.

Some of you have complained that the pace of the movie is sluggish. I strongly disagree. If one watches it in a proper frame of mind, soaking in the period atmosphere of the movie, one hardly gets the time to admire the sets, costume etc. Compared to it, the internationally acclaimed Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon moves at the speed of a tortoise.

And what does one say about its music? The melodious flute notes of Roshni se, the haunting background alaap of Raat ka nasha and the sheer sensuousness of Aa tayaar hoja. - It is Anu Mullick’s best work to date.

Whatever the defects of the movie may be, the fact is that general standard of the movies made in Bollywood is very low. Compared to the sub-standard movies that are churned out week-after-week, this is like a rare jewel, which sadly has been more appreciated by international audiences. Our audience on the other hand have exaggerated its minor defects and dismissed it cynically.