Set in Allahabad, 'Road To Sangam' revolves around Hashmat caught in a complex situation when a bomb explosion rocks his town leading to the arrest of innocent Muslims from his locality. A strike is called by prominent Muslim leaders to protest the injustice meted out to the arrested men. Hashmat is then in a dilemma about whether to support his community or go ahead and repair the engine.

'The film is a journey of Gandhian values and principles and a journey of patriotism. The treatment of the film is very commercial, but the message is very non-commercial. Besides Hashmat's name and the fact that he restored the engine, rest all is fiction but not woven like fiction. It will be seen as a real story by audiences,' said Rai.

Produced by Gipsy Films, it has been made at a budget of approximately Rs.6 crore (Rs.60 million) and Rai has decided to release the film on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday Oct 2.

Asked if it was difficult for a debutant director to rope in seasoned actors like Paresh Rawal and Om Puri, he said: 'It was the story that attracted them and all actors were ready because of my script. Paresh Rawal gave his nod immediately and Om Puri suggested some changes on the sets... he advised not to imitate the real mechanic at all and create our own character.'

Having already generated a buzz in the festival circuit, 'Road To Sangam' had its world premiere at the Ahmedabad International Film Festival this year. It was also screened at the 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival to a 'standing ovation and a second screening on-demand'.

Active in theatre for the last 12 years, Rai has been a three-time recipient of the Best Director award at the Maharashtra State Drama Competition.

He has also been an assistant to directors like Anurag Basu and Anurag Kashyap and was associate director for critically-acclaimed Marathi film 'Tingya' (2008).

(Robin Bansal can be contacted at robin.b@ians.in)