800 OTT release date: When, where to watch Muttiah Muralitharan's biopic starring Madhur Mittal

Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan’s biopic 800, directed by MS Sripathy, is all set for its digital premiere. The film, which had its theatrical release on October 6, stars Slumdog Millionaire's Madhurr Mittal in the lead role. Bankrolled by Movie Train Motion Pictures, the movie will be available to stream on JioCinema starting December 2.

The plot of 800

800 revolves around the remarkable life of Muthiah Muralitharan, who is known for his record-breaking 800 wickets in Test cricket. The narrative delves into Muralitharan’s journey from an oppressed Tamil man to a cricket champion, overcoming various challenges along the way. The film explores his resilience, his transformation from pace bowler to cricket legend, and the complexities of identity, emphasising the struggles he faced due to his Tamil ethnicity in proving his loyalty to the Sri Lankan team. It also touches on the controversies surrounding his bowling technique, which briefly derailed his illustrious cricket career.

The cast and crew of 800

800 also stars Mahima Nambiar, Naren, Naaser, Vela Ramamurthy, Riythvika, Arul Das, Hari Krishnan and Sharath Lohithaswa. The story is co-written by Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka. Ghibran has scored the music for the film, with cinematography by RD Rajasekhar and editing by Praveen KL. The film, originally shot in Tamil, will also be released in Telugu, Hindi and English on JioCinema.

When Vijay Sethupathi exited the film

It's widely known that Vijay Sethupathi was initially selected to play the bowling legend. The team unveiled a first-look poster featuring Vijay Sethupathi, who remarkably resembled the cricketer. However, due to pressure from various political groups and certain sections of the public, the actor had to exit the project. The stated reason was Muttiah's alleged 'betrayal of Tamils' due to his purported support for the killing of Tamils. The cricketer urged Vijay Sethupathi to not jeopardise his acting career for him. In response, Vijay Sethupathi expressed gratitude with 'Nanri, Vanakkam' and withdrew from the film.

Box office collection and reception

The biopic had a fairly decent opening at the box office, raking in Rs 40 lakh on its first day. The film garnered mixed-to-positive reviews from audiences, who felt that although the movie showcased the cricketer’s life story, the narration felt dragged, suggesting a good screenplay could have made it a better watch.

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