Controversy over Muttiah Muralidharan biopic; Producer issues statement

On Tuesday, the motion poster of legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralidharan’s biopic ‘800’ was unveiled. Vijay Sethupathi, whom the Telugu audience knows because of ‘Sye Raa’, is essaying the cricketer in the film.

Many Tamils have trolled Vijay for portraying a sportsperson of Tamil origin who they say didn’t oppose the Sri Lankan government for committing an alleged genocide against Tamils in Sri Lanka in the late 2000s. In this regard, the film’s producer has issued a strong statement, saying that ‘800’ is a pure sports biopic that has nothing to do with politics.

On Wednesday, the producer said that ‘800’ doesn’t make a single political statement. “This film is being made to serve as an inspiration to youngsters to dream big. It doesn’t belittle the struggles of the Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka in any manner. Art is beyond boundaries. It unites people and communities,” he added.

The film will be released in multiple languages, including Hindi, in 2021.