The road movie will forever be linked with a journey of self-discovery, and ?Hari Om?, by director Ganapathy Bharatbala, is no exception.

Though all three main characters ? French couple Isa and Benoit, and rickshaw driver Hari Om ? are forced to face their various fears and undergo some kind of personal transformation, Isa is clearly the central character around which the film revolves. Suddenly alone in a strange country, Isa ? freed from restraint ? begins to assert and explore her own identity. French actress Camille Natt makes Isa?s enthusiasm contagious. Arriving in India just two days before filming began, the actress?s natural reactions to the fascinations of India infuse her character with an almost childlike sensation of excitement at the spectacular new world in which she finds herself.

Benoit, played by French actor Jean Marie Lamour, acts as the perfect foil to Isa?s transformation. Lamour?s portrayal of Benoit as the repressive boyfriend lends the film a ?bad guy?, providing the audience with something tangible for Isa to triumph over, while the character?s own experiences in India assert the country?s power to infiltrate the very heart of one?s personality.

Hari Om, meanwhile, provides both the literal and figurative vehicle for Isa to step into India. Acting as a guide and translator on the madcap journey through the desert, the hapless Hari Om shows Isa a side of his country that would never be seen from behind the windows of the Palace on Wheels. Yet the rickshaw driver is intriguing in his own right. Actor Vijay Raaz?s facial expressions are unforgettable, and the bad-news-bears driver?s happy-go-lucky ways, sudden flashes of Yoda-like insight, and obviously immense capacity for love make him far and away the most unforgettable character of the film.

Exploring the full range of human emotions, from humour to sadness to, of course, love, the characters of ?Hari Om? are instantly likeable. Bharatbala trusts his audience, offering limited explanation of the characters? actions and leaving much up to interpretation. The method also leaves him room to play with the spectacular scenery of India itself ? both natural and man-made ? providing a backdrop to the story that is visually stunning. As with any road story, the many and varied people that the travellers encounter on the road ? most of them played by first-time actors ? act as oracles and provide the audience with a sense of anticipation. Anything could happen next.

And what would a road movie be without some memorable form of transport? Hari Om?s funky rickshaw stands apart ? never more clearly so than when being chased by a seeming Mafia of other rickshaw drivers. ?Hari Om? is a definite audience pleaser.

Rating: well worth seeing.

Showtimes: Friday, March 18, 6.30 p.m. at Liberty Theatre