800 movie controversy: Cricketer Muttiah Muralidaran issues a statement

The upcoming movie '800' is a biopic of Muttiah Muralitharan and Sethupati has been roped to essay the central role of the legendary Sri Lanka spinner.

As soon the announcement about the movie came, fans got upset that the actor took up the role of the Tamil-origin cricketer who never spoke out against the alleged atrocities that the Sri Lankan government is said to have inflicted on the country's Tamil population in the past.

Also, various political parties and film fraternities like Director Bharathirajaa, Poet Vairamuthu and Actor Vivek requested VijaySethupathi to rethink about his decision to play the lead character.

Meanwhile, Muttiah Muralidaran has issued a statement, stating his opinion on the going controversy around his biopic.

The statement written in Tamil reveals that the spinner is emotional about the rows that are still going around him over the years. Written in Tamil, his native language, the spinner said "I have been crossing hurdles and challenges all through my life and career. I am forced to clarify my views, on the ongoing controversy that's going around for my biopic 800."

"I was initially reluctant when the producers of the movie approached me. But on the second thought, this movie would give me an opportunity to talk about the people behind my successful career- my parents, my teachers, my coach and my fellow players in the team. I wanted to thank and recognise their effort to bring out my talent. Hence I accepted the offer"

"I was born in a family of 'Hill country Tamils' and they were the first ones to get affected in the then-ongoing war in the country... I lost my father at the age of 7, who was brutally hacked in the war. I lost my kith and kins as well in the war. My family had a hard time to meet the ends meet and we were left on the roads. I know the pain of losing the loved ones in war. I was brought up in Srilanka amid the war. So, this movie talks about how I found a place in the Srilankan Cricket team while having grown for over 30 years in a war ripped country".

"The controversy around the movie is truely due people with political motive. My words and emotions were misinterpreted. For example, in 2009, Since the war was over then, there wasn't any loss of lives in both sides and I considered it to be a happier year which was eventually misinterpreted as I was happy because my fellow Tamil people were killed in the war".

"As a responsible citizen of country i was never for war nor for killing of innocent people. All I wanted was peace in the country"

"While I was serving as the UN ambassodor, i lent out my helping hands to help the school children in the LTTE zones. I run a foundation "Foundation of Goodness" and aid the needy. We also run a cricket tournament 'Murali Harmony Cup' to inculcate the cricket spirit among the youngsters".

"I am forced to reveal all the details due to the controversy around the movie and I don't want the miscreants to succeed in the mispropoganda against me. Its not my fault to be born as a Srilankan Tamil. I succeeded in my dream in spite of all the hurdles that I faced. This movie only talks on how a man can overcome his inferiority complex and attain success in what he loves to do"

Meanwhile, sources also said actor Vijay Sethupathi is also likely to announce his decision tomorrow, October 17, about his call on the movie, 800.