R Madhavan to star as GD Naidu in biopic; Krishnakumar Ramakumar to direct

Last year, it was announced that R Madhavan had joined hands with director Krishnakumar Ramakumar for a biopic on inventor and engineer GD Naidu. While the film went on floors with an international schedule last year, the Indian schedule is all set to commence next week in Coimbatore, the birthplace of GD Naidu.

The film is being produced by Varghese Moolan Pictures and Tricolour Films, who previously backed Madhavan's National Award-winning directorial debut, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. On producing another biopic for their sophomore venture, producer Vijay Moolan says, "We weren’t looking to make a biopic. Mr Madhavan comes across many stories, and this was one of them—narrated to him by director Krishna. We were actively looking for our next project after Rocketry. We wanted a strong follow-up, and when this story came along, Madhavan really liked it. We also felt it had the potential to be a great film."

GD Naidu is referred to as the Edison of India and the Wealth Creator of Coimbatore. On why his story should be taken across to the audience through a film, Vijay explains, "GD Naidu’s personality was incredibly inspiring—his resilience, his firm beliefs, and his unwavering stance on his decisions. He was staunchly against bribery, deeply patriotic, and a man of immense strength. He never wavered, never budged, and stood his ground no matter what. His sheer presence was remarkable. It’s not just about the life he led but the kind of person he was—truly unique."

Vijay says Madhavan is the best choice to portray this character in India. Speaking about director Krishnakumar's vision for this biopic, Vijay further elaborates, "What truly gave us confidence was his vision—both in how he narrated and wrote the story. It was clear that he was visualising it the right way." Further, Vijay also reveals that the technical crew of Rocketry: The Nambi Effect are back for this upcoming biopic as well. "Bringing this story to the screen is no small task, but with Krishna's experience in advertisement films and a highly skilled technical crew—many of whom worked on Rocketry: The Nambi Effect—we are confident he will steer this project successfully. He is the captain of the ship, and we are all here to support him." Krishnakumar is also helming Oho Enthan Baby, which will mark the debut film of Vishnu Vishal's brother, Rudra.

R Madhavan and Sarita Madhavan are producing the film under the Tricolour Pictures banner along with Vijay Moolan. Aravind Kamalanathan will serve as the film's cinematographer and creative producer. The title of the upcoming biography is all set to be unveiled on February 18, with details about the extended cast and crew to follow soon.