The film was widely screened across the United Kingdom and North America , and was also selected for screening at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival , where it got positive response . The film chronicles the early part of the life of Emperor Asoka . It begins with his career as a General in Taxila ( modern-day Pakistan ) and ends with the bloody conquest of the Kalinga country ( modern-day Odisha State ) Emperor Chandragupta Maurya , grandfather of Asoka , of the Maurya empire , has decided to embrace Jainism and abdicate the throne of the empire in favour of his son Bindusara . But his grandson , Prince Asoka , claims his sword . The old emperor explains that this sword is evil and the sword demands blood and destruction
Toronto International Film Festival
2001 Toronto International Film Festival
Aśoka (film)