Driving Licence (film)

Kuruvila Joseph, a Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) at Kakkanad RTO is a passionate fan of Malayalam film actor Hareendran. Hareendran is preparing to leave for the United States for his wife's diagnosis, delaying filming of his The Great Dictator which already incurred a budget overrun. With the climax still remaining to be shot at an Indian Navy leased land, the crew learns that Hareendran's driving licence that needs to be submitted to get clearance is missing. The producer is outraged as the film has to be wrapped as soon as possible.

Due to a clerical error, Hareendran cannot apply for a duplicate licence. Issuing a new licence would take time. Hence, Hareendran's politician friend Peringodan meets Kuruvila for speeding the procedure, Kuruvila agrees to issue licence illicitly without Hareendran even attending the test, in return, he summons Hareendran to the RTO to meet him in person and as a proof in case of an inquiry. Meanwhile, Hareendran's professional rival Bhadran is plotting to suppress competition from Hareendran by means of occult.

Even though he realises going to the RTO might give away clues for his visit, Hareendran hesitatingly agrees, hoping that an unadvertised visit calls for less visibility. On his arrival, he sees TV channels surrounding the premises, amidst, a peon gives a misinformation to a reporter that Hareendran, an avid driver, was driving without a licence until now. The news spreads. Inside the office, an infuriated Hareendran scolds Kuruvila in front of his son and superiors for the leak and leaves. Angered Kuruvila inform reporters that Hareendran was arrogant and wanted a licence without going through the normal procedures.

Hareendran's reputation has been severely damaged. To worsen the situation, Bhadran's fans community head, Saheer, organises a hit-and-run attack on Kuruvila; at midnight, a masked gang cast stones at his house and Kuruvila's son suffers head injury. Kuruvila believes it is Hareendran's men. Meanwhile, Hareendran reluctantly cancels his US trip on the producer's insistence. While rushing his son to the hospital, a frustrated Hareendran calls Kuruvila by phone and threatens him, which affirms Kuruvila's conviction.

On police inquiry, Kuruvila and wife accuses Hareendran. But Hareendran is not charged as his involvement was inconclusive. Protesting it, Kuruvila and family performs Satyagraha in front of Hareendran's residence, where media and fans also assemble. Amidst, a drunkard named Agasthi is trying to meet Hareendran but denied entrance. Addressing media, Hareendran states that Kuruvila is a crazy fan and a kind of stalker who finds gratification by being a part in his idol's life through disruption. He shows Kuruvila's fan messages as evidence and announces that he has decided to attend the test in the supervision of Kuruvila.

Hareendran gets permission for an open test, which can be viewed by media and can be telecast live, the computer-based test is replaced with a direct question-answer session with Kuruvila. Kuruvila asks difficult and unusual questions, still Hareendran manages to pass the learner's test. Kuruvila's son is bullied by Hareendran's fan-boys in school, with that, Kuruvila decides not to send him school until Hareendran has failed and is determined to fail him using maximum discretion. Meanwhile, Hareendran's wife requires a surgery, a flight is charted to reach there as soon as the test is completed.

On the practical assessment day, Hareendran smoothly completes the "H test", but Kuruvila fails him pointing petty mistakes, overruling it his superior pass him. Kuruvila makes Hareendran wait until noon for the followup "road test". At noon, he postpone the test by two days, which happens to be the day of Hareendran's wife's surgery. Hareendran announces to the onlooking fans and media that he is forfeiting driving forever because Kuruvila has misused his power and he will retire from acting if this disrupts his life farther. Enraged fans began lynching Kuruvila, Hareendran saves him and flees from the place.

While en-route, they clear the misunderstandings. Hareendran brings Kuruvila and family to his house. Two days later, before leaving to the airport Hareendran interacts with the press about their reconciliation. A drunken Agasthi interferes and deliver him his lost licence and said he has been trying to reach him since the beginning. To the crowd, Hareendran says: "I can drive now, right ? Received my driving licence". He then drives off in his car.

• Prithviraj Sukumaran as Hareendran
• Suraj Venjarammoodu as Kuruvila Joseph
• Miya George as Elsa Kuruvila
• Deepti Sati as Bhama Hareendran
• Saiju Kurup as Johny Peringodan
• Suresh Krishna as Bhadran
• Lalu Alex as Jagannatha Varma
• Major Ravi as J. RTO Samuel Jackson
• Nandhu as Driver Kunjali
• Shivaji Guruvayoor as RTO Siva G.
• Adhish Praveen as Jinto Kuruvila
• Arun as Movie Director
• Aneesh G. Menon as Zaheer
• Salim Kumar as Agasthi
• Vijayakumar as DYSP Joseph Unniyadan
• Nandhu Pothuval as Production Controller
• Kalabhavan Navas as Menon
• Sohan Seenulal as Anandhu Panicker
• Mridul Nair as Kabeer
• Boban Alummoodan as Kottukapalli
• Sunil Babu as Murugan
• Kalabhavan Haneef as Pillai
• Shafique Rahman as Channel reporter
• Vijayaraghavan as Himself (Cameo)
• Idavela Babu as Himself (Cameo)
• Mafia Sasi as Himself (Cameo)
• Innocent as Himself (Cameo voice-role)

The film was launched on 11 July 2019 and principal photography began in the following week.[1]

Driving License was released in India on 20 December 2019 and internationally from 25 December 2019, debuting in the Gulf Cooperation Council. The film had a digital release through Prime Video.[2]

• Driving Licence at IMDb