800 Review
800 - A Diligent Biopic Tackling Identity and Triumph Over Adversities
Director - MS Sripathy
Cast - Madhur Mittal, Mahima Nambiar, King Ratnam, Nassar, Vela Ramamoorthy, Vadivukkarasi, Narain
"800," directed by MS Sripathy, takes on the monumental task of narrating the life of Sri Lankan Tamil cricketer Muthiah Muralitharan, addressing not only his illustrious career but also the challenges he faced regarding his identity and the controversial chucking allegations. While the film covers the major milestones in Murali's life with diligence, there are moments where a deeper exploration could have elevated the narrative.
The biopic begins even before Murali's birth, providing context with an animated narration of the history of cricket and its impact on the Tamils in Sri Lanka. It unfolds as a chronological account of Murali's life, from his childhood interest in cricket to the ethnic riots of 1977 that forced him into a boarding school, his debut series disappointment, the chucking controversy, and his eventual achievement of becoming the highest wicket-taker in Tests with 800 wickets.