Tamil star Vijay Sethupathi faces backlash over Murali film

South superstar Vijay Sethupathi has been facing the heat on Twitter after the motion poster of legendary cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan's biopic was released earlier this week.

Tamil star Vijay Sethupathi will be essaying the role of legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan in his upcoming movie titled '800'. However, the biopic on the Sri Lankan great has landed in hot soup even before its release as Sethupathi has been facing immense backlash on social media for playing Muralitharan's character in the movie.

#ShameOnVijaySethupathi trended on Twitter as fans expressed their outrage against the biopic. The actor has been facing the heat on Twitter from a section of society, who feel Muralitharan never spoke against the alleged atrocities inflicted on the Tamil population in the country by the Sri Lankan government.

Some also expressed anger over Sethupathi wearing a Sri Lankan flag on his jersey. Pro Tamil groups and politicians have asked the actor to stay away from the movie.

The Tamil fans are against the biopic as they believe it portrays someone who sided with the government that has over the years attacked Tamilians, in a heroic manner.

Muralitharan had last year faced the backlash on Twitter after expressing his support to the ruling Rajapaksa family and denying alleged attack on Tamilians in 2009.

A host of biopics on sportspersons have so far been made in India and a movie on Muralitharan is latest to join the list. But the film has been embroiled in controversy even before its release.

The movie '800' is all set to be made in Tamil but will also be released in other languages like Hindi, Bengali and Sinhalese.