Muttiah Muralitharan biopic’s first look out: After Vijay Sethupathi’s exit, makers reveal Slumdog Millionaire actor Madhurr Mittal as cricketer

The untold story of #MuthiahMuralidaran 🏏🔥

➡️ https://t.co/bqjCWvJGms#MadhurrMittal #MSSripathy @GhibranOfficial @Mahima_Nambiar @RDRajasekar @Cinemainmygenes @MovieTrainMP @VivekRangachari #800TheMovie #800MotionPoster pic.twitter.com/OaLYUz2yLN

— Sony Music South (@SonyMusicSouth) April 17, 2023

Actor Madhurr Mittal, best known for his role as Salim Malik in Slumdog Millionaire, took to Instagram and shared that he was thrilled to play Muralitharan for 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.

 

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A post shared by Madhurr Mittal (@mad.mittal)

In 2020, the makers had announced 800 with Vijay Sethupathi headlining the film but following outrage from Tamil nationalists and a section of film personalities and politicians in Tamil Nadu, the actor decided to opt out of the biopic. The film was caught up in a controversy over Sethupathi’s decision to play Muralitharan, who is believed to have supported the Lankan government during the civil war with the LTTE.

Even though Muttiah Muralitharan had himself tried to explain his case and argued that he never treated Eelam Tamils with disrespect citing his own Tamil origin, many pointed out a footage and news reports suggesting the cricketer’s seemingly supportive stand for Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the island-nation’s President who was the war-time defense secretary, and other remarks made towards the end of the Civil War.