Published 12:26 IST, October 14th 2020
'Shame on Vijay Sethupathi' trends as Muralitharan biopic '800' announcement draws flak
'Shame on Vijay Sethupathi' trended on Twitter as Muttiah Muralitharan biopic '800' announcement got flak from a section over the latter's stand on civil war.
After biopics on Indian cricketers Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Mohammad Azharuddin, makers have now ventured to a neighbouring country for the next adaptation. A Tamil film has been announced on Muttiah Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in international cricket, considered one of the greatest bowlers to have played the game. While the announcement with Vijay Sethupathi stepping into the shoes of the legend for 800: The Movie created buzz, the actor is also facing flak now.
Netizens trend ‘Shame on Vijay Sethupathi’
Moments after the motion poster of the film was unveiled, ‘Shame on Vijay Sethupathi’ trend caught on in a big way on Twitter. Netizens were displeased with Vijay Sethupathi for backing a film on Muralitharan, who has had a controversial stand over the decades-long civil war between the Sri Lanka government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), that sought a separate state for the Tamils in the Sinhalese-majority country.
Netizens brought out the 48-year-old's statement allegedly denying the ‘genocide’ of Tamils in the clashes that ended with the government's victory in 2009, Muralitharan had then got flak for his statement and for expressing his support to the ruling Rajapaksa family. Some expressed anger about a Tamil actor wearing the Sri Lankan flag on his jersey.
However, some defended the controversy and that all Sri Lankans were not against Tamils.
This was not the first time that Vijay Sethupathi drew flak, as previously he had received similar responses when the film had been announced with him in the lead.
The 96 them termed had then defended his decision to that the questions over the film will vanish upon the film’s release. He had then stated that it was a ‘really good story’ that ‘needs to be told’ and brought out ‘humanness’.
'800'
The motion poster was launched during the Dream11 Indian Premier League encounter between Chennai and Hyderabad, with whom the Sri Lankan is associated with a bowling coach.
The teaser features clashes that Murali witnessed as a child, apart from being part of the team attacked by a group of terrorists in Pakistan, the controversies of his suspect action and success.
The title is derived from 800 Test wickets, which he ended with, the most by any bowler in Tests. The film is directed by #MSSripathy and Produced by Movie Train Motion Pictures and Vivek Rangachari.
Updated 12:26 IST, October 14th 2020