A.R.Rahman is doing the background score for this movie as it's a songless movie. It was confirmed by Rajkumar Santoshi in an interview, few weeks ago.
--- In [email protected], Gomzy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > ** > I hope ARR is doing this ??Also RKS talks about Ramyan! > > http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jan/04raj.htm > ** > *You love working with him, don't you?* > > He is a trusted friend. And I feel that I will continue working with him for > many years. I never get tired of working with Ajay. He will be playing the > lead in *Ashoka* and then in the *Ramayan. *Both will be made within two > years. I am sure people will be astounded how he will interpret the two > compellingly fascinating characters. Ajay is one of the few leading men in > the industry today who will some day become a very valued character actor. > > ** > > *What do you feel most appealing in him?* > > He has never been a chocolate face actor. Though he has received a lot of > praise for his performances and awards, I feel every time I work with him, > there is so much more talent in him that is waiting to be exploited. > Ajay surprises me every time we are doing a new film. > > ** > > *What kind of Ashoka would he make?* > > I am sure he will bring out well all the contradictions, weaknesses and > strengths in *Ashoka*. I love history and I read extensively about > historical people. I have been thinking of this film for many years, and > Ajay was always there in my mind as Ashoka. > > *[image: Vidya Balan]Some filmmakers would have been tempted to cast > 'handsome' actor as Ashoka.* > > (*Chuckles*) That is the point. From my reading, I know that Ashoka was not > a handsome person in the traditional sense. He was also a dark skinned > person. One of Ajay's strengths is that he can get under the skin of any > well-written role and make it his own. He has sharp, expressive eyes. And > he appears to be very natural in all the challenging characters he has > played so far. > > *People surely have asked this question before. There is already a film on > Ashoka, starring Shah Rukh Khan > [Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=shah rukh > khan> > ] and directed by Santosh Sivan. The film got mixed reviews and did not > perform well. What made you decide on another film on the emperor?* > > The answer lies in your question. It is not that I did not like the previous > film. But I found it ended at a very important juncture, the Battle of > Kalinga, that led to Ashoka getting horrified with the carnage on the > battlefield and renouncing warfare. > > My film starts where Santosh Sivan's film ended. I am fascinated by the life > and times of Ashoka. I remember reading H G Wells, who considered Ashoka to > be the most powerful emperor because of the moral strength he had in > renouncing violence and seeking an ethical life for himself and his people. > Wells considered Ashoka to be even greater than Alexander and Julius Caesar. > It would not have surprised me to read an Indian historian calling Ashoka > great. But a British historian recognising Ashoka's greatness? How can I > resist the idea of making a film on Ashoka? > > ** > > *There surely some people in the film business who think it is a risky > subject?* > > I am sure. But the fact that I am all ready to make the film --- we plan to > start shooting it in February --- shows my confidence in the subject. > > *[image: A still from Halla Bol]What did you find most interesting about > Ashoka's life?* > > I am tempted to look at what might have happened after he renounced war and > he actually begin to believe in the renunciation. I don't think the > transition was easy. I don't think he stopped fighting the demons within > himself once he took that decision. I am often intrigued by, whether I read > a novel or study history, the transitional period. > > *What made you choose Bipasha Basu > [Images<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=bipasha basu> > ] for Ashoka?* > > I think Ajay and Bipasha have excellent screen chemistry. She plays the role > of Kaurwaki. She has to be sensuous and also a person of determination. This > could be one of the most challenging roles of her career. > > *There surely are people who will remind you about The Legend of Bhagat > Singh. Did that film eventually make the money?* > > The producers of the film say they haven't recovered the investment. And > yet, TIPS is so proud of the film, it is mentioned as their proudest > achievement. Though the film was not a runaway hit, thousands liked it. It > won many awards. Many people in India consider it to be one of the finest > historical films made by an Indian filmmaker. >
