Reviews & Ratings for
अशोक (2001)

Sweeping epic about Asoka, an Indian emporer who wikipedia tells me converted to Buddhism and is held up for being a humanitarian ruler who spread Buddhism even beyond his kingdom.

The movie deals with his ascension to the throne and ends with the climatic battle with the Kalinga. Legend tells that his reaction to all the corpses and destruction of that battle (100,000 dead) lead to his conversion to Buddhism. Part of his famous speech ends the film, "What have I done? If this is a victory, what's a defeat then? Is this a victory or a defeat?"

The movie fictionalizes a romance with a Kalinga princess (Kareena Kapoor), and their love story was my favorite part of the film, especially the scene where the meet as she is bathing in a waterfall.