The first look poster of the upcoming biopic on Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan has been unveiled. The film, titled ‘800’, will see ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ fame actor Madhurr Mittal in the role of the cricketer. Earlier, actor Vijay Sethupathi was supposed to play Muralitharan’s role in the movie.
Madhurr took to Instagram and shared that he was thrilled to get an opportunity to play Muralitharan on the big screen.
‘Extremely grateful for the opportunity to portray the legend, Muthiah Muralidaran in #800. @murali_800 #GOAT. Launching the first look on his birthday, that he shares with my dearest mother, makes it even more special for me. Coming soon to cinemas in Tamil, Telugu & Hindi,’ he wrote.
‘800’, directed by MS Sripathy, is a reference to the record number of wickets Muttiah Muralitharan took in test cricket. It is scheduled to release in cinemas in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi.
Sharing the first look poster of the film, the official Twitter page of Sony Music South wrote, ‘The untold story of a legend who spun his way to the top. Starring #MadhurrMittal as #MuthiahMuralidaran, #800MotionPoster’.
The forthcoming movie sparked a controversy in 2020 when the makers announced that Vijay Sethupathi will be headlining the film. Tamil nationalists and a section of film personalities and politicians in Tamil Nadu protested as Muralitharan was believed to have supported the Lankan government during the civil war with the LTTE.
Muralitharan had argued that he never treated Eelam Tamils with disrespect citing his own Tamil origin.
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