Brad Pitt

Riding on the global buzz of Brad Pitt’s F1 The Movie, Indian cinema gears up for its own racing story with NK 370 (working title), a biopic on Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first Formula One driver.

Directed by Mahesh Narayanan (Take Off, Malik), the Tamil-language film is produced by Blue Marble Films with a script by Soorarai Pottru writer Shalini Usha Devi.

The story follows Narain’s rise from a motorsport-obsessed boy in Coimbatore to the global F1 circuit. Trained by his rally champion father, he entered competitive racing at 15 and made an early mark with a stunning comeback drive in his debut race.

He later trained in France, where he faced racism but proved his talent under pressure. The film will explore his international wins, a major crash in Macau, and a personal love story that grounded his journey.

In 2005, Karthikeyan made history with Jordan F1, out-qualifying Michael Schumacher on debut and becoming the first Indian to score F1 championship points.

“Motorsport gave me everything. This film gives that story to the world,” said Karthikeyan. Casting is underway, with production aiming for a global audience.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is facing widespread criticism over its recent censorship of Hollywood films like Superman and F1, while Indian films continue to pass with minimal cuts.

Recently released James Gunn’s Superman and Brad Pitt’s F1 were edited to receive a U/A 13+ rating. A 33-second kiss between Superman and Lois Lane was removed, and a middle-finger emoji in F1 was altered. These changes have sparked strong reactions on social media.

On platforms like X and Instagram, users and even a few celebrities have accused the CBFC of double standards. They point out that Indian films across languages like Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada often include violence, bold romance, and mature themes but rarely face the same level of scrutiny. Many believe this selective censorship affects the narrative and emotional depth of international films, reducing the overall viewing experience.

Although criticism of the CBFC is not new, the growing popularity of global cinema in India has intensified the debate. Viewers are calling for a consistent and fair certification process that respects creative expression, regardless of the film’s origin. Whether the board responds to these concerns or continues with its current approach remains to be seen.

NK 370: Biopic on India’s First F1 Driver Narain Karthikeyan Announced

Superman and F1 censored in India, CBFC faces heat over unfair cuts