Is Narain Karthikeyan’s Journey to Formula One Now a Biopic?

Mumbai, July 18 (NationPress) Director Mahesh Narayanan, celebrated for films like Take Off, Malik, and the Locarno title Ariyippu, is taking on a new project tentatively called “NK 370”. This film will depict the inspiring story of Narain Karthikeyan, who made history as India’s first Formula One driver.

Motorsport has given me everything, Karthikeyan stated. This film will share that narrative with the world.

The movie charts Karthikeyan’s incredible journey from a rebellious youth in Coimbatore to the global racing stage, where he conquered class, race, and personal challenges to attain the heights of Formula One.

Narain Karthikeyan’s path is more than just racing. It’s about having faith—believing in oneself, one’s country, and pursuing a dream that others may not comprehend. That’s what captivated me about this narrative,” Narayanan expressed.

This Tamil-language film is in the works at Blue Marble Films in India, with production led by Faraz Ahsan, Vivek Rangachari, and Pratik Maitra. The screenplay is crafted by Shalini Usha Devi, known for the acclaimed Soorarai Pottru, according to reports from variety.com.

Ahsan remarked, India is home to some of the most hazardous roads globally. Surviving traffic here demands skill. What intrigued me was how someone like NK transitioned from navigating those streets to racing at 365 km/h—faster than a commercial plane at takeoff.

I pursued Narain for years to obtain the rights, and after several candid discussions and the right team assembling, he finally agreed.

The narrative begins with young Narain on his father’s lap, gripping the wheel of an old rally car. His father, a former national rally champion, filled their home with engines, tools, and dreams yet to be realized.

At five, Narain received a homemade go-kart, delighting in the crashes and spins across the driveway—especially thriving in wet conditions that posed a challenge. Despite his parents’ worries over the costly sport and the absence of government backing, Narain’s enthusiasm never dimmed.

After excelling in his 10th-grade exams, he convinced his parents to permit his return to racing. His father modified a Maruti 800 into a training vehicle and became his coach, as reported by variety.com.

At fifteen, Narain participated in his inaugural Formula Maruti race at the Sriperumbudur circuit in Chennai in 1992. Starting from the 17th position, he initially fell to the back but surged forward in the last 10 laps, overtaking 16 racers to finish third—heralding the arrival of India’s motorsport underdog.

To establish his international credentials, Narain attended the prestigious Winfield Racing School in France, where more than 30 F1 drivers had trained.

As the only Indian and brown-skinned driver, he faced racism and bullying from 20 white students from elite families. During his final test in wet conditions, he clocked the second-fastest lap time, earning the label of “something special.”

The film will portray both his achievements, including victories in Formula Asia, British Formula Ford, and Formula 3, alongside his challenges at the Macau Grand Prix, where he crashed at 270 km/h on the final lap while leading by six seconds.

The story also weaves in a romantic subplot, featuring his future wife, whom he met in an elevator—a woman unaware of racing but who believed in him wholeheartedly. His redemption came when he returned to Macau, training rigorously by navigating treacherous mountain hairpins in Ooty, clinching victory in the race that once shattered his dreams.