The eternal spirit of Benaras is all set to come alive on celluloid as director Pankuj Parashar experiments with the themes of love and enlightenment in his forthcoming venture - "Banaras: A Mystic Love Story".

Talking about his film here, Mr Parashar said, "It would prove to be a marked departure from my familiar style and pattern as it is a different genre of film, which is based on a spiritual subject."

The film captures the experience of love seen through the prism of different forms of love and woven in the narrative are the themes that represent the eternal city of Benaras -- the clash betwen blind rationality and faith, divisions of caste and creed and between what is visible and what is possible, the director explained.

The film has been shot across Benaras, which is steeped in generations of mystique and heritage as well as the picturesque locales of Mauritius.

The cast includes an impressive array of actors, including Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia, Urmila Matondkar and Akash Khurana.

The music of the film has also been composed in a manner in which every note reflects the ancient Benaras gharana of Indian music.

Talking about the film, producer and scriptwriter L N Singh said, "Banaras reflects the rich Indian tradition and heritage and the film is an attempt to showcase the timeless qualities embodied by the city and lives of the people both in the past and the present."