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Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat

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Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat
GenreHistorical Fiction
Drama
Created byAbhimanyu Singh[1]
Written byAshok Banker
Directed byPrasad Gavandi
Creative directorsJitendra Srivastava, Nafees Khan
StarringSee below
Opening themeAshoka Hai, Ashoka Tha
Country of originIndia
Original languageHindi
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes442[2]
Production
ProducersAbhimanyu Singh
Rupali Singh
Production locationsKarjat, Raigad district, Maharashtra, India
CinematographyDeepak Pandey
Running timeapprox. 20 minutes
Production companyContiloe Entertainment
Original release
NetworkColors TV
Release2 February 2015 (2015-02-02) –
7 October 2016 (2016-10-07)

Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat (transl. The Great Emperor Ashoka) is a 2015 Indian historical drama TV series that aired on Colors TV from 2 February 2015 to 7 October 2016.[3][4] with Siddharth Nigam portraying the young version of the character.[5]

Series was based on the life of Ashoka the third emperor of the Mauryan dynasty. The series tells the story of how he faced the problems outside and inside Magadha, eventually rising to become its ruler.[6][7] The show premiered on 2 February 2015 with a 1-hour telecast duration for the first 20 episodes.[8] The serial ended on 7 October 2016.[9] It was awarded and being named as the best Historical drama ever made.[10]

Plot

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This series starts when Magadha is ruled by Emperor Bindusara Maurya. Bindusara's step-mother, Helena conspires against him. Bindusara is attacked but is saved by a Brahmin woman in Champa named Dharma. Bindusara is amazed at her and marries her. Dharma then conceives a child. She refuses to visit royal palace with Bindusara, who promised her to return. Bindusara's third queen, Noor and her father, Mir Khorasan, seek to assassinate Dharma. Mir attacks Dharma and kills her father. He then sets her hut on fire. Bindusara assumes Dharma to be dead, but Dharma survives and gives birth to a son, Ashoka.

14 years later

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Ashoka is now grown into a brave boy and lives with Dharma in a hamlet. Chanakya spots Ashoka and finds his truth, but promises Dharma to keep it a secret. Chanakya and his disciple, Radhagupta take them to Pataliputra disguising Dharma as a royal physician. Ashoka impresses Bindusara and they develop a bond, irritating Bindusara's eldest son, Sushim, his mother Charumitra, Mir Khorasan, Helena and her son, Justin. It is revealed that Justin and Noor are having a affair since years and Siyamak is their child . Helena fixes Justin's marriage with Aghnishika the princess of Ujjain and Shushim falls in love with her sister Ahenkara . Later it revealed that it was pre planned by Helena and her father Seleucus to kill the Mauryan family. Ashok saves Bindusara from the fire and Ahenkara's father is killed. Justin is killed by Helena for betrayal after he claims responsibility for Helena's crimes. Eventually, Ashoka finds about his father and reunites Bindusara and Dharma. Helena came to know about Siyamak and accepts him to make him the king of Maghdha. Shushim's marriage gets fixed with Ahnekara but due to their family rivalry he starts torturing her. Ashoka saves Ahenkara and her brother from Sushim being Angradhoodht but it creates a rift between Bindusara and Ashoka .Noor tries to overthrow Bindusara but is killed by Ashoka. Chanakya is trapped and set in fire by Helena, Khallatak, Charumitra, Sushim and Siamak. Ashoka saves him from fire and Chanakya dies asking Ashoka to become the Emperor and realise his dream of Akhanda Bharat. Ashoka is shattered and vows to catch the murderers.

Later, Ashoka succeeds in saving Taxila from Kichak. He falls in love with Kaurvaki, the princess of Kalinga. Mir Khorasan and Helena's father, Emperor Seleucus conspire to overthrow Bindusara but fail and are killed. While both are in prison, Helena reveals Ashoka about the murder of Chanakya and fakes a suicide. Ashoka is enraged and attempts to kill Sushim for which he is banished by Bindusara. Dharma and her newborn son Vitashoka (Vit) accompany him to Ujjain and Ashoka vows to come back stronger and avenge Chanakya's death.

10 years later

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Ashoka, now known as Chand, has become a ruthless, angry man who just wants revenge. He lives with Dharma and Vit in the house of a merchant named Dhaniram. Dhaniram's daughter, Devi cares about them. Sushima has become stronger with the help of the black magic of Charumitra. Siamak has grown into a cool-headed man but thirsts for the death of Ashoka. Ashoka takes part in a wrestling contest with Sushim as Chand. Dharma and Vit come there and stop Ashoka. Bindusara recognises them, forgives Ashoka, and asks him to come back to Pataliputra.

Ashoka exposes Helena, who is still alive as Kondana. Siamak is tricked and kills Helena. Ashoka and Sushim are supposed to marry Kaurvaki and Chanda. Kaurvaki's father, Jagannath insults Bindusara and Dharma and asks the throne of Magadha. Ashoka is enraged and marries Devi, calling off his marriage with Kaurvaki. Dharma is killed by Sushim and Bindusara also dies due a cardiac arrest caused by Charumitra's blackmagic, leaving Ashoka broken. He suspects Siamak to be Dharma's murderer and kills him. Sushim stabs Charumitra to death, mistaking her to be Kaurvaki. Khallatak teams up with Ashok. Sushim confesses his crimes. After a fierce war, Sushim falls into a lava pit and dies. Later Chanda Curses Ashok as she was Pregnant. Ashoka is crowned as the third emperor of Magadha. Devi was about to leave but stays learning that she is pregnant. Devi Informs Ashok about her pregnancy and stays with kaurvaki.

Months later, Devi gives birth to their son, Mahindra and later their daughter, Sanghamitta. Ashoka captures Kalinga and draws a massive amount of bloodshed, killing millions of people. An injuried Kaurvaki tells ashok that this is not the Akhand Bharat that Chanakya and Chandragupta wanted. This incident leaves him traumatised at the waste of human lives. He later on, decides to give up violence and embraces Buddhism. With the help of his children and ministers, he propagates the principles of Buddhism around the world for the welfare of mankind and earns the title of "Ashoka the Great", also fulfilling Chanakya's dream of Akhand Bharat (Greater India).

Cast

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Main

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  • Mohit Raina as Prince Ashoka aka Chand:
    • Third Maurya Emperor; Bindusara and Dharma's elder son; Vitashoka's brother; Sushim and Dhrupad's half-brother; Sushim's arch rival; Devi and Karuvaki's husband; Mahinda and Sangamitta's father. (2016)
  • Kajol Srivastav as Empress Devi:
    • Dhaniram's daughter; Ashoka's first wife; Mahinda and Sanghamitta's mother. (2016)
  • Soumya Seth as Queen Kaurvaki:
    • Princess of Kalinga; Jagnnath and Vasudha's daughter; Ashoka's second wife. (2016)
  • Pallavi Subhash as Queen Dharma:[12]
    • Bindusara's beloved and second wife; Ashoka and Vitashoka's mother. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Sameer Dharmadhikari as Samrat Bindusara:[13]
    • Second Maurya Emperor; Chandragupta and Durdhara's son; Helena's step-son; Justin's half-brother; Charumitra, Dharma, Noor and Subrasi's husband; Sushim, Ashoka, Dhrupad and Vitashoka's father; Siamak's foster father. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Ankit Arora as Crown Prince Susima:
    • Bindusara and Charumitra's son; Ashoka, Vitashoka and Dhrupad's half-brother; Ashoka's arch rival; Chanda's husband. (2016) (Dead)
  • Manoj Joshi as Acharya Chanakya:[14]
    • Chandragupta, Bindusara and Ashoka's teacher and royal advisor; Radhagupt's teacher. (2015) (Dead)

Supporting

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  • Suzanne Bernert as Rajmata Helena:
    • Seleucus's daughter; Chandragupta's second wife; Justin's mother; Bindusara's step-mother; Siamak's grandmother; Sushim, Ashoka, Dhrupad and Vitashoka's step-grandmother. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Dev Singhal as Prince Vitashoka aka Vit:
    • Bindusara and Dharma's younger son; Ashoka's brother; Sushim and Dhrupad's half-brother. (2016)
  • Prinal Oberoi as Empress Charumitra:[15]
    • Bindusara's first wife; Sushim's mother. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Heena Parmar as Princess Chanda:
    • Sushim's widow. (2016)
  • Preet Kaur Madhan as Queen Subrasi:
    • Bindusara's fourth wife; Dhrupad's mother. (2015–2016)
  • Ayaan Zubair Rahmani as Prince Dhrupad:
    • Bindusara and Subrasi's son; Sushim, Ashoka and Vitashoka's half-brother. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Arhaan Behll as Samrat Chandragupta:
    • First Maurya Emperor Durdhara and Helena’s husband; Justin and Bindusara's father; Sushima, Ashoka, Siamak, Dhrupad and Vitashoka's grandfather. (2015) (Cameo) (Dead)
  • Sumit Kaul as Prince Justin Maurya:[12]
    • Chandragupta and Helena's son; Bindusara's half-brother; Noor's secret lover; Agnishika's ex-fiancé; Siamak's father. (2015) (Dead)
      • Dev Singhal as young prince Justin
  • Ankita Sharma as Queen Noor Khorasan:
    • Khorason's daughter; Bindusara's third wife; Justin's secret lover; Siamak's mother. (2015) (Dead)
  • Abhiram Nain as Prince Siamak Maurya:[16]
    • Justin and Noor's son; Bindusara's foster son; Sushim, Ashoka, Dhrupad and Vitashoka's cousin. (2016) (Dead)
      • MD Faizan Khan as Child Prince Siamak (2015–2016)
  • Tripti Shukla as Princess Ahenkara:
    • Princess of Ujjain; Niharika and Rajiraj's daughter; Aghnishika's cousin; Sushim's former love interest and fiancee , Ashok's Friend(2015)
  • Jitendra Bohra / Dakssh Ajit Singh as Acharya Radhagupt:
    • Chanakya's disciple; Ashoka's prime minister and teacher. (2015–2016) / (2016)
  • Manoj Kolhatkar as Mahamatya Khallatak:
    • Bindusara's Prime Minister; Sushim's supporter turned Ashoka's helper. (2015–2016)
  • Jaswant Menaria as Nayak:
    • Keechak former commander; Ashoka's supporter. (2016) (Dead)
  • Vikrant Chaturvedi as Mir Khorason:
    • Bindusara's former commander; Noor's father; Siamak's grandfather. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Tej Sapru as Seleucus I Nicator:
    • Helena's father; Justin's grandfather; Siamak's great-grandfather. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Manoj Verma as King Jagannath:
    • King of Kalinga; Vasudha's husband; Kaurvaki's father. (2016)
  • Alefia Kapadia as Queen Vasudha:
    • Queen of Kalinga; Jagannath's wife; Kaurvaki's mother. (2016) (Dead)
  • Sachin Verma as Acharya Akramak:
    • Ashoka's guru in Royal Academy. (2015) (Dead)
      • Rajesh Khera as Acharya Devrath:
        • Ashok's guru in Taxila. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Yashashri Masurkar as Princess Agnishika:
    • Shaktiraj's daughter; Ahenkara's cousin; Justin's ex-fiancée. (2015) (Dead)
  • Tapasya Nayak Srivastava as Queen Niharika:
    • Queen of Ujjain; Rajadiraj's wife; Ahenkara's mother. (2015) (Dead)
  • Shailesh Dattar as Amatya Ugrasain:
    • Justin and Helena's spy. (2015) (Dead)
  • Sudhanshu Pandey as Raja Keechak:
    • Former king of Taxila; Vasantsena's brother; Bahamani's husband. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Monica Sehgal as Rani Bahamani:
    • Queen of Taxila; Keechak's widow. (2015–2016)
  • Amit Behl as Amatya Rakshas:
    • Helena and Keechak's helper. (2015–2016)
  • Sonal Parihar as Nirjhara:
    • Chanakya's spy. (2015) (Dead)
  • Praveen Kaur as Kasturi:
    • Chanakya's spy and Dharma's helper. (2015–2016) (Dead)
  • Rumi Khan as Daastan:
    • Noor's ex-lover. (2015) (Dead)
  • Harsh Khurana as Uttar:
    • Kondana's right hand. (2016) (Dead)
  • Anand Goradia as Agnibahu:
    • Keechak's ministry. (2015–2016)
  • Mayank Gandhi as Virat as Ashoka's protector. (2016)

Production and promotion

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The set was erected in Karjat.[17] The show was produced by Contiloe Entertainment.[18] A team of at least 500 people worked on the series. Episodes were shot across Jaisalmer, Kerala, Mumbai's Film City and Karjat. A lightman died on the set in April 2015.[19]

Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat was promoted on the comedy show Comedy Nights with Kapil on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri in February 2015[20] A game app "Ashoka:The Game" was launched by Colors TV in April 2015.[21][22]

Awards

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Year Award show Category Result
2015 Indian Telly Award Best Child Actor
(Siddhart Nigam) 		Won[23]
Best Historical Series Nominated[24]
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Drama)
(Sameer Dharmadhikari) 		Nominated[24]
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Drama)
(Pallavi Subhash) 		Nominated[24]
Gold Awards Best Historical show Won[25]
Best Actor (Debut)
(Siddhart Nigam) 		Won
BIG Star Entertainment Awards Most Entertaining Television Actor (Female)
(Pallavi Subhash Shirke) 		Nominated
Most Entertaining Television Actor (Male)
(Siddhart Nigam) 		Nominated
Most Entertaining Television Fiction Show Nominated
2016 Gold Awards Best Supporting Actor (Male)
(Sameer Dharmadhikari) 		Nominated[26]
Best Supporting Actor (Female)
(Pallavi Subhash) 		Won
Best Actor in a Negative Role (Female)
(Prinal Oberoi) 		Nominated

Critical reception

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The Times of India praised Ashok Banker's reconstruction filled historical gaps and stated that they provide "interesting fictional turns" for the show.[27]

Bollywood Life reviewer, Letty Mariam Abraham, gave the show 3 out of 5 stars; praising the sets, visual effects and production value of the show. She further heaped praise on child prodigy Siddharth Nigam as "undoubtedly a brilliant actor"; stating that "his agile body makes him the perfect actor for the role." Abraham gave her final verdict as "the show looks promising but has a lot of scope for improvement. I'd recommend that people watch this historical drama for Siddharth Nigam and the special effects of the show."[28]

India.com reviewer, Prathamesh Jadhav, stated "going by the opening episode we must confess that this elaborate drama looks rather promising with its interesting tale." He further stated, "What we liked though is the visuals and the diligence that has been put in by the special effects and VFX team. The work is seriously commendable." He gave his final verdict as "going by what we have seen [in] it one must admit that the show looks promising with its actors, its sets and the details that have gone into making a tele-series of this nature."[29]

Additionally it has been known to imitate its style and fictional characters from Game of Thrones.

International broadcast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Unnikrishnan, Chaya (4 October 2014). "A historical war: Siddharth Tewary and Abhimanyu Singh race to make serial on king Ashoka". DNA. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat episodes". Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat: Story so far..." 6 October 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat: History comes alive on the small screen". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  5. ^ Coutinho, Natasha (9 December 2014). "Sameer's the king of the TV world". The Asian Age. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. ^ "2015: TV shows to look forward to in the new year". The Times of India. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Watch King Ashoka on TV". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  8. ^ "First look of much-awaited TV serial 'Chakravartin Ashok Samrat' launched". The Indian Express. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  9. ^ "This is when Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat will go off air". Times of India. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  10. ^ "'Chakravartin Ashok Samrat' - Colors rolls out its masterpiece". The New Indian Express. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  11. ^ Coutinho, Natasha (5 February 2015). "Siddharth Nigam talks of being Ashoka". The Asian Age. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  12. ^ a b Karan Shah (19 December 2014). "Siddharth Nigam, Sumit Kaul and Pallavi Subhash roped in for Ashoka". The Indian Express. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  13. ^ Tiwari, Vijaya (21 November 2014). "Sameer Dharmadhikari in Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  14. ^ "'Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat': Manoj Joshi, aka Chanakya, Sacked or Quit". India West. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Prinal Oberoi in Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Ashoka to kill Siamak in Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat". Times of India. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Simulating regality". Deccan Herald. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  18. ^ Nandini Sharma (2 February 2015). "Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat Debuts on Colors Today! Here Is Why You Shouldn't Miss It | Business Insider India". Businessinsider.in. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  19. ^ Tarannum, Asira (17 April 2015). "Lightman dies on the sets of TV show 'Ashoka'". Mid Day. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Photos: Kapil Sharma's special guests this Maha Shivratri - The Indian Express". The Indian Express. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  21. ^ "Ashoka Android Game App". Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  22. ^ "Bring out the brave king in you!". 7 April 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Indian Telly Awards 2015 Winners: Complete list of winners". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  24. ^ a b c "Nominations for Indian Telly Awards 2015 out; see who all have made the cut". India Today. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  25. ^ Sarkar, Prarthana (22 June 2015). "Zee Gold Awards 2015 Highlights, Complete Winners' List: 'Yeh Hai Mohabbatein' Bags Most Honours; Karan-Divyanka's Romance Steals the Show". International Business Times. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  26. ^ A, Nagarathna (25 May 2016). "Gold Awards 2016 Nomination List: Divyanka Tripathi, Sriti Jha, Varun Kapoor & Others Nominated". FilmiBeat. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  27. ^ Dubey, Tulika (4 August 2015). "Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  28. ^ Mariam Abraham, Letty (4 February 2015). "Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat TV review: Looks promising but has scope for improvement". Bollywoodlife.com. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  29. ^ Jadhav, Prathamesh (2 February 2015). Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat makes an impressive debut on Colors: Read review. India.com. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  30. ^ CTN TV Official Channel (3 March 2016). "ព្រះបាទអសោក - ASHOKA - CTN Drama - India Drama Promote Trailer 2016" – via YouTube.
  31. ^ "Ashoka". ANTV. Archived from the original on 1 September 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  32. ^ "Adiraja Dharmashoka". Derana 1K.
  33. ^ "Emperor Ashoka teasers for August 2021". Brieftly.co.za. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
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