'Noblemen' mirrors society's current authoritarian drift: Director

"Noblemen" director Vandana Kataria, who is happy that Ali Haji won the Best Child Actor Award at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) for the film, says the project mirrors the society's reality about bullying.

"It's really heartwarming to see our film being appreciated and Ali Haji winning the Best Child Actor Award at the New York Indian Film Festival. 'Noblemen' is a sincere attempt at highlighting bullying and its effects which is both widespread and severely debilitating.

"Set in an all boys' boarding school, it mirrors the society's current authoritarian drift," Kataria said in a statement.

A Yoodlee Films project, the film is inspired by William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice". It talks about the struggles of adolescent years and deals with the pertinent theme of bullying, which is rampant in high schools.

Actor Kunal Kapoor essays the role of a charismatic drama teacher in a prestigious boarding school. He uses unique and unconventional ways of teaching theatre to his students.

Ali plays the central character Shray, who is chosen to play the lead character of Bassanio in "The Merchant of Venice", much to the dismay of his seniors who also want the coveted part. It unleashes a chain of incidents that have far reaching repercussions.

Siddharth Anand Kumar, Vice President - Films and TV, Saregama, said: "'Noblemen' is a striking piece of work - gripping and sensitive in equal measure, and gives a strong voice to the social malady of bullying."

The film will release in mid-2018.

--IANS

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