https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ashoka_%282008_film%29Ashoka (2008 film) - Revision history2026-09-21T21:58:04ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashoka_(2008_film)&diff=487940&oldid=prevNWIMuoi623534 at 21:11, 15 April 20262026-04-15T21:11:53Z<p></p>
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{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Ashoka<br />
| image = Ashoka (2008 film).jpg<br />
| caption = DVD cover<br />
| director = [[Prem Menon (actor)|Prem]]<br />
| writer = Prem <br />
| starring = Prem<br />Anushree<br />Pooja Bharathi<br />[[Raghuvaran]]<br />[[Rajeev (Tamil actor)|Rajeev]]<br />[[Anandaraj]]<br />
| producer = Indira Prem<br />
| music = [[Sabesh–Murali]]<br />
| cinematography = Om Prakash<br />
| studio = Lotus Film Company<br />
| distributor = <br />
| released = {{Film date|2008|02|01|df=y}}<br />
| runtime = 132 minutes<br />
| country = India<br />
| language = Tamil<br />
}}<br />
'''''Ashoka''''' is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language [[action thriller film]] written and directed by [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|NRI]], Prem, who also stars in the lead role with Anushree, Pooja Bharathi, [[Raghuvaran]], [[Rajeev (Tamil actor)|Rajeev]] and [[Anandaraj]] in supporting roles. The film revolves around the life of a protector, who guards the Prime Minister of India. The film was produced by Prem's wife Indira under Lotus Film Company.<br />
<br />
==Plot==<br />
[[Prem Menon (actor)|Prem Menon]] plays a [[National Security Guard|Black Cat]] commando chief Ashoka looking after the security of the Prime Minister of the country. The film begins with Ashoka barely managing to save the life of the PM at the Coimbatore airport from a terrorist ambush.<br />
<br />
Ashoka saves the PM, as the doctor later says, "The PM has survived, as he has his [[Dextrocardia|heart on the right side]] which is a rare phenomenon!" The rest of the film is about how Ashoka foils more terrorist attempts on the PM's life as he is recovering at the hospital.<br />
<br />
==Cast==<br />
*[[Prem Menon (actor)|Prem]] as Ashoka<br />
*Anushree<br />
*Pooja Bharathi<br />
*[[Raghuvaran]] as Huzoor<br />
*[[Rajeev (Tamil actor)|Rajeev]] as Doctor<br />
*[[Anandaraj]] as Chandramohan<br />
*[[Uma Padmanabhan]]<br />
*[[J. Livingston|Livingston]]<br />
*Naveen<br />
<br />
==Production==<br />
The film began production in June 2004, and was made over four years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rasika |date=19 February 2004 |title=Prem back to movies |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/reeltalk/02reeltalk18th.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603091641/http://www.chennaionline.com/reeltalk/02reeltalk18th.asp |archive-date=3 June 2004 |website=Chennai Online |access-date=6 October 2015 }}</ref> The film featured no songs or a separate comedy track, and won media recognition for being a rare Tamil film during the period to have neither of those elements.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 November 2007 |title=Actor Prem's new experiment |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Actor-Premrsquos-new-experiment/article14881031.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408032429/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Actor-Premrsquos-new-experiment/article14881031.ece |archive-date=8 April 2020 |access-date=31 December 2018 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><br />
== Soundtrack ==<br />
<br />
==Reception==<br />
''[[Sify]]'' wrote, "Unfortunately Ashoka is not a great experience and drags."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ashoka |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/ashoka-review-tamil-pclw4vhbeedge.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924150954/http://www.sify.com/movies/ashoka-review-tamil-pclw4vhbeedge.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |website=[[Sify]] |access-date=13 January 2026 }}</ref> Kanika of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised Raghuvaran's acting and cinematography but panned the music and antagonists providing unintentional humour but felt the screenplay was dull and that story, lacking substance, hangs in limbo. She concluded saying Prem could have shown the importance given to the hero in the direction as well.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=கனிகா |date=24 February 2008 |title=அசோகா |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2008-02-24/page/n7/mode/2up |access-date=10 January 2026 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=8 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*{{IMDb title}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:2008 Tamil-language films]]<br />
[[Category:2008 action thriller films]] <br />
[[Category:2008 Indian films]]<br />
[[Category:Cultural depictions of prime ministers of India]] <br />
[[Category:Films directed by Prem Menon (actor)]] <br />
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]</div>NWIMuoi623534