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800: The Movie, a biopic on the legendary cricketer bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, hit screens today. Slumdog Millionaire actor Madhur Mittal has played Muralitharan’s role in this sports drama. Delve into our review to see how it fares.

Story:

The story unfolds the life of Muttiah Muralitharan, a cricket legend from Sri Lanka. It explores his personal and professional experiences, including the hardships his family faces due to the ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka. The narrative also delves into his struggles before and after entering international cricket and the controversies surrounding his unique bowling action.

 

Plus Points:

Madhur Mittal impeccably embodies the role of the legendary cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan. Madhur’s performance is nuanced and effectively immerses the audience in the character.

The film’s second half features numerous scenes that resonate well with the audience, particularly those depicting the truth about Muralitharan’s bowling action.

Certain emotional moments are executed effectively. Nassar’s role is notable, and he portrays it perfectly, while the rest of the actors perform adequately in their respective roles. Also, the Telugu dubbing is satisfactory.

 

Minus Points:

Enjoying a known story, especially one about a famous personality, largely depends on its engaging narration. This is particularly crucial for biopics, and it is where the director, M.S. Sripathy, falls short in leaving a lasting impression.

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 Muttaih 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, providing ample opportunities to elevate several scenes, which were unfortunately missed, resulting in a less memorable biopic.

The musical score could have been better, and the blame falls on Ghibran for not enhancing 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:

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.

 

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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