Seven years after his last feature "Split Wide Open" Dev Benegal is all set to hit the 'road' with a new movie.

Based on a script that has made it to the prestigious Atelier of the 59th Cannes Film Festival, the film "Road, Movie" (the comma between the two words is crucial, he insists), is on the verge of closing an international co-production deal.

"I am keeping my fingers crossed until the money is in hand," says the writer-director.

"Road, Movie" will be Benegal's first feature film in Hindi.

"I have been reminded that people do not speak Hindi in the Kutch region where the film will be set, but I don't think that should pose a problem," Benegal told.

The $2.5 million (Rs.80 million) film, if the financial backing materialises as expected, is set to roll by the end of the year.

"Road, Movie" will be the first Indian film to be shot by Australian-born Hong Kong cinematographer Christopher Doyle.

"The challenge before me," says Benegal, "is to synchronise Doyle's availability with the need to get the film rolling in winter". The supremely gifted and notoriously eccentric Doyle is one of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai's principal creative collaborators. Since "Road, Movie" will be shot in the oppressively hot Kutch region of Gujarat, only a December-January schedule would be feasible, Benegal points out. He also hopes to get sarangi maestro Sultan Khan and legendary guitarist Ry Cooder to team up for the film's music. The movie is about a young man who hits the highways in search of his destiny on a truck laden with reels of films. It promises to be as much a quirky coming of age drama as a tribute to life and cinema.