Biopic On India’s First F1 Driver, Narain Karthikeyan In The Works
MUMBAI (IANS)- Filmmaker Mahesh Narayanan, known for his critically acclaimed works like “Take Off,” “Malik,” and the Locarno-selected “Ariyippu,” is set to direct “NK 370” (tentative title). The film will chronicle the extraordinary journey of Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first Formula One driver.
“Motorsport gave me everything. This film gives that story to the world,” said Karthikeyan.
The movie will trace Karthikeyan’s remarkable ascent from a rebellious boy in Coimbatore to the pinnacle of international racing. It will highlight how he overcame challenges related to class, race, and numerous crashes to reach Formula One.
“Narain Karthikeyan’s journey isn’t just about racing. It’s about belief — in yourself, your country, and a dream no one else can see. That’s what drew me to this story,” stated Narayanan.
The Tamil-language feature film is currently under development at India’s Blue Marble Films. It will be produced by Faraz Ahsan, Vivek Rangachari, and Pratik Maitra. The screenplay is penned by Shalini Usha Devi, who also wrote the critically acclaimed “Soorarai Pottru,” as reported by Variety.com.
Ahsan commented, “India has some of the most dangerous roads in the world — just surviving traffic here takes skill. But what fascinated me was how someone like NK went from navigating those roads to racing at 365 km/h — a speed faster than a commercial aircraft at takeoff.” He added, “I’ve been after Narain for years to secure the rights, and after a few honest conversations and the right team coming together, he finally said yes.”
The story begins with a young Narain sitting on his father’s lap, gripping the steering wheel of an old rally car. His father, a former national rally champion, had filled their home with engines, tools, and unrealized dreams. At five, Narain received a homemade go-kart, often crashing and spinning across the driveway, particularly enjoying wet conditions that made racing more challenging. Despite his parents’ concerns about the expensive nature of the sport and the lack of government support, Narain’s passion never wavered.
After excelling in his 10th-grade exams, he convinced his parents to allow him to return to racing. His father then modified a Maruti 800 into a training car and became his coach, Variety.com reported.
At fifteen, Narain entered his first Formula Maruti race at the Sriperumbudur circuit in Chennai in 1992. Starting 17th on the grid, he initially fell to last place but rallied impressively in the final 10 laps, overtaking 16 racers to finish third. This performance marked the arrival of India’s motorsport underdog.
To prove himself internationally, Narain attended the prestigious Winfield Racing School in France, an institution that has trained over 30 F1 drivers. As the sole Indian and only “brown-skinned driver” among 20 white students from elite families, he faced racism and bullying. However, during his final test in wet conditions, he recorded the second-fastest lap time, earning recognition as “something special.”
The film will showcase both his triumphs, including wins in Formula Asia, British Formula Ford, and Formula 3, as well as his significant setback at the Macau Grand Prix. In that race, he crashed at 270 km/h on the final lap while leading by six seconds.
The narrative also includes his romantic subplot, depicting how he met his future wife in an elevator – a woman who knew nothing about racing but believed in him unconditionally. His ultimate redemption came when he returned to Macau, trained harder by driving dangerous mountain hairpins in Ooty, and finally won the race that had once shattered his dreams.
