Asoka' the movie, portrays the journey of a man through life where he encounters love, passion, loss, betrayal, ambition and violence. The encounters change his life completely and the once ambitious warrior renounces everything and bestows himself to spread peace around the world. The story, though not biographical is based on the life of the great Mauryan emperor Asoka of ancient India (3rd century BC), a mighty warrior who fought numerous battles and conquered many kingdoms but later turned to Buddhism.

Asoka (Shah Rukh Khan) one of the ascendants to the Magadha throne, was the grandson of the great Chandragupta Maurya. His stepbrother Susim (Ajit Kumar) is another contender to the Magadha throne and this causes rivalry between the two. They make attempts at each others life. Asoka's mother Dharma (Suhasini Ali) scared for her sons life advises him to leave everything and live as an ordinary citizen. Asoka who loves and respects his mother leaves at her insistence.

He lives in disguise as Pawan, a commoner. He meets Kaurwaki (Kareena Kapoor) the princess of Kalinga, also in hiding along with her kid brother, the uncrowned prince Arya (Suraj Balaje) and their loyal chieftain Bheem (Rahul Dev). Their parents, the king and the queen of Kalinga were killed by their own Prime minister and they are on the run for their lives. Asoka and Kaurwaki fall in love and they get married. This is the time Asoka encounters peace and love in his life. But for a short period of time as he is called back to Magadha by his ailing mother. Pawan rushes back to Magadha with the promise that he will return soon and help them win back their lost kingdom.

Meanwhile Kaurwaki has to face a furious mob who wants to turn her in and she is forced to go into hiding again. When Asoka returns he is told that Kaurwaki and Arya have been killed. He goes back to his kingdom as an angry, bitter man. He begins to wage war with a vengeance. Asoka’s conquests continues until an attack leaves him badly injured. He is nursed back to health in a Buddhist monastery by Devi (Hrishitaa Bhatt) who saves him from another attempt on his life by Susima. Asoka marries Devi and she introduces Buddhism into Asoka's life. As life moves on, his mother gets killed. Nothing can hold Asoka any longer and in the following encounter he kills his brother Susima and the now ruthless Asoka goes on to kill all his brothers. One of them escapes and seeks refuge in the neighboring Kalinga, now ruled by Prince Arya and Princess Kaurwaki who are still alive.

Asoka continued to conquer lands extending his empire, killing thousands. At last he comes to Kalinga, and the battle that followed was one of the bloodiest of all. In the battlefield, the lovers Asoka and the now injured Kaurwaki come face to face. Only then she realises her enemy was none other than her beloved Pawan. Asoka on the other hand although he wins the battle loses everything.. his trusted friends, his wife, his remaining brother. The enormity of his actions strike him when he looks around the dead and mutilated bodies in the battlefield.

The movie is technically and aesthetically superb especially the individual duels and the war sequences have been brilliantly executed. Cinematography by Santhosh Sivan is breathtaking as always ..Shah rukh Khan as Asoka has given a wonderful performance .. as a romantic , as a ruthless warrior .. the various phases has been emoted well. Kareena looks beautiful and convincing as a princess of a bygone era. Most of the actors have done their part and given a believable performance .. Rahul Dev as the royal chieftain, Ajit Kumar as the power hungry plotting brother, Hrishitaa Bhatt in her small role as Devi, Danny Denzongpa as Virat; Asoka's enemy turned trusted friend and not forgetting the adorable 10 year old Suraj Balaje as Arya, the crown prince.

Music by Anu Malik is not up to the mark but the background score by Sandeep Chotwa definitely makes up and is remarkable. The director and the technicians behind deserves praise for churning out a wonderful piece of art. The movie is technically good but the mass appeal needs to be seen.