‘800 The Movie’ Rating: 3.5/5
Starring: Madhur Mittal, Nasser, Mahima Nambiar, Narain, Sharath Lohithaswa, and others
Director: MS Sripathy
Producer: Vivek Rangachari
Music Director: Ghibran
Cinematographer: RD Rajasekhar
Editor: Praveen KL
Biographical sports film is a genre which is not made often. When it is attempted, it has an advantage owing to the special set of audience who is interested in the sports. Based on the life of Muttiah Muralitharan, 800 (film) is named after Mutthiah’s highest number of test wickets 800. Earlier, Kabir Khan’s 83 (film) was based on India’s historic world cup victory in 1983. Will 800 (film) make such an impact? Here is the review
A Tamil origin Muttiah Muralitharan (Madhur Mittal) struggles to get a place in Sri Lanka’s International Cricket team. After getting into the team and succeeding with his off-spin, Murali faces allegations of chucking by Australian umpires. His ‘controversial’ bowling briefly derails his cricket career. Murali with Tamil origin is under pressure to prove his commitment for the Sri Lanka team and fans. How Murali faces all the odds and emerges as the highest-wicket taker in world’s test career forms the crux of the story.
800 is a collaborative effort between Sripathy and Shehan Karunatilaka, with Sripathy commencing the narration as Muralitharan teeters on the precipice of achieving a remarkable milestone—800 wickets, the highest in the world. The film delves into Muralitharan’s arduous journey, with Nassar taking over the narrative reins to share his struggles.
The story, screenplay, and direction of 800 tread the familiar path of a biopic, akin to films like MS Dhoni: The Untold Story,83, or Azhar. However, it distinguishes itself through its unique subject—a Sri Lankan cricketer. True to Muralitharan’s assertion that the film would unveil the lesser-known aspects of his personal life, Sripathy diligently explores Murali’s tumultuous childhood, intertwined with the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict, the war-ridden backdrop of Sri Lanka, and the initial discrimination he faced in his cricketing career.
The first half of the film brims with emotion, particularly as Muralitharan grapples with being labeled a “chucker” by teams like Australia and England, prompting other nations to follow suit. While Sripathy adeptly weaves cricket and politics together, the narrative is hindered by predictability.
The second half predominantly revolves around Muralitharan’s relentless struggle to prove his innocence, resulting in repetitive scenes. Regrettably, the film overlooks Murali’s rivalry with contemporaneous spinners such as Saqlain Mushtaq and Shane Warne. Moreover, it neglects to include matches involving Sri Lanka and India, despite showing Indian tailenders striving to thwart Murali’s pursuit of his milestone wicket.
Throughout the film, numerous scenes underscore the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict, illustrating Muralitharan’s debates with LTTE chief Prabhakaran concerning war and peace. The poignant dialogue encapsulating Murali’s weariness from constantly having to prove himself right resonates as a powerful reflection of the fate that “800” ultimately portrays.
Gibhran’s background score in 800 is both soothing and soul-stirring, adding a layer of depth to the emotional landscape of the film. His music masterfully enhances the overall impact of the narrative.
RD. Rajasekhar’s cinematography shines with its natural and realistic portrayal of Sri Lanka’s picturesque locations. His lens captures the essence of the country remarkably well, providing a genuine backdrop for the story’s unfolding.
However, the film loses some of its audience engagement when depicting international cricket matches played by Sri Lanka against various countries. These sequences lack the grandeur and excitement that one expects from such pivotal moments. Instead, they appear somewhat lackluster, resembling more of club-level matches than the high-stakes international games they are meant to represent.
Praveen KL’s editing is competent but leaves room for improvement, especially in terms of addressing the repetitive scenes that slow down the pacing of the film.
While the dialogues are serviceable, they don’t stand out as exceptional. Nevertheless, the production values from Movie Train Motion Pictures remain commendable, contributing to the overall quality of the production.Altogether, 800 as a whole serves as a poignant portrayal of cricketer Muralitharan’s arduous journey from obscurity to stardom. Sripathy’s vision extends beyond merely showcasing Muralitharan’s cricketing achievements, as he delves into the human aspects of his life. This is exemplified through Muralitharan’s role as a UN Ambassador, seen in his efforts to deliver relief items to LTTE-controlled areas and his impassioned discussions with LTTE chief Prabhakaran. The film handles the complex Sinhalese and Tamil conflict with a balanced touch. Despite these commendable efforts, the screenplay and direction tend to follow a predictable trajectory.
On the whole, 800 is a biopic that works only in parts. The film’s highlights are the exemplary performance of Madhur Mittal as Muttaih Muralitharan and a few emotional scenes in the second half. However, it is marred by a sluggish screenplay in both halves, a lack of high-impact moments, and emotional depth in certain places. Those interested in learning about the personal life of Muttaiah, rather than his cricketing career, can watch this movie this weekend.