'800' will be more than just about my cricket: Muthiah Muralidaran

There was a phase, in the late 1990s, when Sri Lankan cricketing great Muthiah Muralidaran had to handle pressure from two fronts. He had to prove his talent on the field. And he had to prove the allegations of 'chucking' against him wrong. His biopic '800', set to arrive at the cinemas on October 6th, is going to bring out this inner struggle and beyond in a non-dramatic fashion. Starring Madhur Mittal of 'Slumdog Millionaire' fame as the protagonist, the film will be released in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi across India by Sridevi Movies' Sivalenka Krishna Prasad.

In his latest interview, Muralidaran stressed that '800' can be expected to be bereft of exaggerations and hyperbole. It is the truth as it happened, he suggests.

The biopic was in the making, especially its scripting, for years. "The film is only one-fifth cricket. The lion's part of '800' is about what unfolded outside the pitch," Muralidaran says.

There is an indication that the selection process, the moral support he received from Lankans when the 'chucking' controversy erupted, and the civil war in the country affecting him will be shown in a moving manner.

'800' happened because Tamil producer Venkat Prabhu, who is a family friend, offered to make one many years ago.

Mahima Nambiar plays Madhimalar Ramamurthy, the former cricketer's wife, in this film. Directed by MS Sripathy, the film also features Naren, Nassar, Vela Ramamoorthy, Riythvika, Vadivukkarasi, Arul Das, Hari Krishnan, and Sarath Lohithaswa. Ghibran has composed the music.