Cast: Madhur Mittal, Nasser, Mahima Nambiar, Narain, Sharath Lohithaswa, And others
Director: MS Sripathy
Producer: Vivek Rangachari
Music Director: Ghibran
“800: The Movie,” a biopic on the legendary cricketer bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, has hit the screens today. Madhur Mittal, known for his role in “Slumdog Millionaire,” portrays Muralitharan’s character in this sports drama. Let’s delve into our review to see how it fares.
Story:
The film unfolds the life of Muttiah Muralitharan, a cricket legend from Sri Lanka. It explores his personal and professional journey, shedding light on the hardships his family faced due to ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka. The narrative delves into his struggles before and after entering international cricket and the controversies surrounding his unique bowling action.
Plus Points:
Madhur Mittal delivers an impeccable performance as the legendary cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan. His nuanced portrayal effectively immerses the audience in the character.
The film’s second half features several scenes that resonate well with the audience, particularly those revealing the truth about Muralitharan’s bowling action.
Certain emotional moments are executed effectively, with Nassar delivering a notable performance. The rest of the cast also performs adequately, and the Telugu dubbing is satisfactory.
Minus Points:
Enjoyment of a well-known story, especially one about a famous personality, depends largely on engaging narration. This is crucial for biopics, and unfortunately, director M.S. Sripathy falls short of leaving a lasting impression in this regard.
Audiences typically seek a deeper exploration of incidents they are already familiar with from various sources. In the case of “800,” there are numerous such incidents in Muttiah Muralitharan’s life. Regrettably, in the process of showcasing them, the director fails to establish an emotional connection with the audience.
The screenplay could have been more finely crafted to provide ample opportunities to elevate several scenes, which were unfortunately missed, resulting in a less memorable biopic.
The musical score could have been better, and Ghibran’s contribution doesn’t enhance the emotional depth of key scenes.
Technical Aspects:
As a writer and director, M.S. Sripathy could have done a better job, at the very least in creating a refined biopic and paying tribute to the famous bowler. Ghibran’s inability to elevate scenes through his music disappoints his fans. Editing by Praveen K. L. could have been crisper. However, the cinematography and production values are satisfactory.
Verdict:
In summary, “800: The Movie” is a biopic that works only in parts. The film’s highlights include Madhur Mittal’s exemplary performance as Muttiah 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 Muttiah, rather than his cricketing career, can watch this movie this weekend.