This is the tale of the mighty Asoka and the war he waged for the kingdom of Kalinga. For long the subject of numerous tales, it has now been transformed into a lovingly crafted 21st century dream. As director Santosh Sivan recreates history with Archlightz and Films' Asoka.

Turning this epic tale into cinematic theatre involved a tremendous amount of research and the burning of midnight oil by both the cast and crew. Eighteen months of labour that will light screens across the world on October 26.

Will Sivan, and producers Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, receive the audience's thumb's up? You decide, with Poll.

Bone up on the predictions made by informed trade pundits.

Soak in the photofeature.

Catch up on what Asoka's cast and crew have to say.

An exclusive feature from rediff.com

Design: Rajesh Karkera
Concept: Vivek Fernandes, Ronjita Das,
                Sukanya Verma

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Asoka notes are powerfully sensuous
Web watch: Asoka