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- India's First Formula One Driver Narain Karthikeyan Gets Biopic Treatment With Mahesh Narayanan's 'NK 370' (EXCLUSIVE)</p>
<p>Naman RamachandranJuly 18, 2025 at 2:00 AM</p>
<p>Mahesh Narayanan, the acclaimed Indian director behind "Take Off," "Malik," and Locarno title "Ariyippu," is set to helm "NK 370" (working title), a Tamil-language feature film chronicling the extraordinary journey of Narain Karthikeyan, India's first Formula One driver.</p>
<p>The project, currently in development at India's Blue Marble Films, will be produced by Faraz Ahsan, Vivek Rangachari, and Pratik Maitra. The screenplay comes from Shalini Usha Devi, who penned the critically acclaimed "Soorarai Pottru."</p>
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<p>"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," said Narayanan.</p>
<p>The film follows Karthikeyan's remarkable rise from a rebellious boy in Coimbatore to the international racing circuit, overcoming class, color, and crashes to reach Formula One's pinnacle.</p>
<p>Ahsan said: "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. 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."</p>
<p>The story begins with 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, crashing and spinning across the driveway — particularly enjoying wet conditions that made racing more challenging.</p>
<p>Despite his parents' concerns about the expensive sport and lack of government support, Narain's passion never wavered. After excelling in his 10th-grade exams, he convinced his parents to let him return to racing. His father modified a Maruti 800 into a training car and became his coach.</p>
<p>At fifteen, Narain entered his first Formula Maruti race at Sriperumbudur circuit in Chennai in 1992. Starting 17th on the grid, he fell to last place early but rallied in the final 10 laps, overtaking 16 racers to finish third — announcing the arrival of India's motorsport underdog.</p>
<p>To prove himself internationally, Narain attended the prestigious Winfield Racing School in France, where more than 30 F1 drivers had trained. As the only Indian and only brown-skinned driver, he faced racism and bullying from 20 white students from elite families. During his final test in wet conditions, he recorded the second-fastest lap time, earning recognition as "something special."</p>
<p>The film will chronicle both his triumphs — including wins in Formula Asia, British Formula Ford, and Formula 3 — and his devastating setback at the Macau Grand Prix, where he crashed at 270 km/h on the final lap while leading by six seconds. The crash cost him sponsors and friends, forcing a return to India and a period of reflection.</p>
<p>The narrative includes his romantic subplot, meeting his future wife in an elevator — a woman who knew nothing about racing but believed in him unconditionally. His redemption came when he returned to Macau, trained harder by driving dangerous mountain hairpins in Ooty, and won the race that had once destroyed his dreams.</p>
<p>In 2005, Narain Karthikeyan achieved his ultimate goal, becoming India's first Formula One driver with Jordan F1 team. On debut in Melbourne, he out-qualified seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher and started 12th on the grid. He later became the first Indian to score F1 World Championship points, finishing fourth at the United States Grand Prix, and subsequently joined Williams F1 as a test driver.</p>
<p>"Motorsport gave me everything. This film gives that story to the world," said Karthikeyan.</p>
<p>Cast announcements are expected soon, with the production targeting a global audience hungry for underdog stories that transcend cultural boundaries. The film aims to capture not just the high-octane world of Formula One, but the deeply personal journey of a man who refused to let geography, economics, or prejudice limit his dreams.</p>
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