Filmmaker Mahesh Narayanan, known for acclaimed films like Take Off, Malik, and Ariyippu, is set to direct a biopic tentatively titled NK 370, based on the inspiring life of India&rsquo;s first Formula One driver, Narain Karthikeyan.
&ldquo;Motorsport gave me everything. This film gives that story to the world,&rdquo; said Karthikeyan, reflecting on the project.
The film traces his incredible journey from being a rebellious child in Coimbatore to becoming a global name in motorsports. Despite facing challenges of class, color, and multiple crashes, Narain defied odds to reach the pinnacle of Formula One.
Director Mahesh Narayanan shared, &ldquo;Narain Karthikeyan&rsquo;s journey isn&rsquo;t just about racing. It&rsquo;s about belief in yourself, your country, and a dream that no one else can see.&rdquo;
Currently in development under India&rsquo;s Blue Marble Films, the biopic will be produced by Faraz Ahsan, Vivek Rangachari, and Pratik Maitra. The screenplay is by Shalini Usha Devi, best known for her work on Soorarai Pottru.
Producer Ahsan said, &ldquo;India has some of the most dangerous roads in the world. Just surviving traffic here takes skill. What fascinated me was how someone like NK went from navigating those roads to racing at 365 km/hr,&nbsp; faster than a commercial aircraft at takeoff.&rdquo;
The story opens with young Narain sitting on his father's lap in an old rally car. His father, a former national rally champion, filled their home with tools, engines, and dreams. At the age of five, Narain got a homemade go-kart and would race and crash it across their driveway, enjoying the thrill, especially in wet conditions.
Despite financial concerns and a lack of government support, Narain&rsquo;s passion for racing remained strong. After doing well in his 10th-grade exams, he convinced his parents to let him pursue racing seriously. His father became his coach and even turned a Maruti 800 into a training car.
Narain entered his first Formula Maruti race at the age of 15 at the Sriperumbudur circuit in Chennai in 1992. Starting 17th, he dropped to last but made a stunning comeback to finish third.
Determined to make it on the global stage, he enrolled at the prestigious Winfield Racing School in France, which had trained over 30 Formula One drivers. There, he was the only Indian and the only brown-skinned student. He endured racism and bullying but impressed everyone during his final wet-condition test with the second-fastest lap time.
The film will capture his major victories in Formula Asia, British Formula Ford, and Formula 3, as well as his infamous crash at the Macau Grand Prix where he lost control at 270 km/h on the final lap while leading.
A romantic angle in the story features his future wife, whom he met in an elevator. Though she knew nothing about racing, she believed in him deeply. His redemption arc comes full circle as he returns to Macau, better trained and more focused, eventually winning the very race that had crushed his dreams years before.

India’s first Formula One driver- Narain Karthikeyan

India’s first Formula One driver’s inspiring journey to be made into a feature film

Narain Karthikeyan Biopic Announced

India’s first Formula One driver’s inspiring journey to be made into a feature film

July 18, 2025 | 13:57 IST