Mahesh Narayanan to direct biopic of Indian F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan

Malayalam filmmaker Mahesh Narayanan will direct a biopic on India’s first Formula 1 Driver Narain Karthikeyan. Variety reported that the movie will be a Tamil-language feature, chronicling the journey of Karthikeyan.

Produced by Faraz Ahsan, Vivek Rangachari and Pratik Maitra, the movie is currently been developed at Blue Marble Films. Shalini Usha Devi, who wrote the Suriya starrer Soorarai Pottru, will pen the script for the F1 movie.

Speaking to Variety, Mahesh Narayanansaid, “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.”

Karthikeyan, born in Coimbatore, had an early initiation to motorsport, thanks to his father Kakarla Karthikeyan Naidu, who was a rally racer. Karthikeyan soon worked his way through the Formula series, before landing an F1 seat with Jordan in 2005. At the USA Grand Prix, he finished fourth, claiming his first points in the competition.

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“Motorsport gave me everything. This film gives that story to the world,” Karthikeyan, who was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2010, told Variety. Details of cast and crew of the film are yet to be announced.