| Critic | Score (out of 5) | Key Comment | |--------|----------------|--------------| | Taran Adarsh (Bollywood Hungama) | 3.5 | “Visually stunning but emotionally uneven.” | | BBC Movies | 2/5 | “History sacrificed for star power.” | | Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) | N/A | “Not released widely in US; festival circuit response was mixed.” | | IMDB user rating (2001–2024) | 6.5/10 | Praised for cinematography, criticized for historical liberties. |
The film’s structure echoes:
and performances, it has been noted for taking significant creative liberties with historical facts, particularly by centering the narrative on a fictionalized romance. Index of the Film "Asoka" (2001) index of asoka movie
: His thirst for conquest leads him to wage a catastrophic war against Kalinga. Unknown to him, Kaurwaki is alive and leading the resistance. The war is exceptionally bloody, ending in a "crushing defeat" for Kalinga and the massacre of thousands. | Critic | Score (out of 5) |