3.5/5
Campus bullying is a sad truth of our education system. It's quite rampant in residential schools and colleges. The thing is, those who are victims as freshers become perpetrators when they become seniors. The cycle of violence doesn't get broken. Worse, those who raise a voice against it are seen as snitches. They are socially ostracised by everyone, even the victim they want to help. Because the code of silence shouldn't be broken. It's the worst kind of toxic masculinity that's at play here. The worse thing is that the management of such institutions is more concerned with their reputations than anything else and do their best to sweep such cases under the carpet. Often, the victims have nowhere to go and resign themselves to years of victimhood. Most are scarred for life by the traumatic experiences. The more fragile ones attempt suicide. Adolescence is also an age when you become acquainted with your sexuality. More often than not, those who don't have a heterosexual orientation find it hard to adjust in hostels. Those brave enough to come out are treated as freaks.Taking Shakespeare's play The Merchant Of Venice, which has revenge at its heart as the base, the film addresses all these issues and more. The play is taught by the progressive school teacher Murali (Kunal Kapoor), who later plans to stage it for the Founder's Day of the institute. Shay (Ali Haji) and Pia (Muskaan Jaferi) are chosen as the two leads. Trouble erupts when senior student Baadal (Shaan Grover), who is the son of a movie star, insists on being the male lead. He and his best friend Arjun (Mohammad Ali Mir), the sports captain of the school and star footballer, bullies Shay constantly so that he gives up the role. But he resolutely holds on. Things come to such a head that Shay is raped by Arjun. That triggers off a streak of hatred within him and he yearns for revenge. This unhealthy desire had serious repercussions not only for himself but also for those around him.
William Golding, in his seminal novel, Lord Of The Flies, highlighted the fact that children are more prone to violence than adults and things can take a tragic turn if this tendency remains unchecked. A similar kind of horror is brought out by this film. The brutality is relentless, there is no reprieve for the audience. The only oasis for Shay is the friendship of his best friend Ganesh (Hardik Thakkar) and Pia but even that doesn't prove to be enough. The film is driving home an important message and I that zeal the writing has gone somewhat awry, especially towards the climax. Shay's mother is an ex-air force veteran, Pia's mom is a teacher in school. Both are strong women in their own right. He could easily have confided in them and sought out another school. There were better solutions available but it's also true that sometimes anger turns us blind and makes us choose the worst way forward.
The acting of the entire ensemble cast is top notch. Be it Mohammad Ali Mir as the school bully, Shay as the sensitive boy liking poetry or Hardik Thakkar as the boy who is fat-shamed, everyone is a natural. Soni Razdan appears in a cameo as Shay's wheelchair-bound mother. Kunal Kapoor is a treat to watch as always and it's really a pity that an actor of his calibre is so underutilised in our industry. The film's dialogue is in English and feels like parts of actual conversations. More often than not, English spoken by our actors feels unnatural but thankfully that's not the case here.
Watch the film to come to terms with a taboo subject that needs to be talked about more. Let's hope the film starts a debate about it...
Trailer : Noblemen
Sreeparna Sengupta, June 27, 2019, 11:54 PM IST
3.0/5
STORY: When Shay lands a coveted role in his school’s annual play, it leads to him being bullied mercilessly by his seniors. As much as he would like to hold on to his part, it gets increasingly difficult for him and soon things spiral out of control.
REVIEW: Seniors, students Arjun (Mohammed Ali Mir) and Baadal (Shaan Grover) call all the shots at their boarding school, Mount Noble High. There is a strict code of seniority and the junior students almost always toe the line, barely defying the school bullies despite a strict watch by the House teachers and the Head Master. Because no one wants to be called a ‘rat’ or a snitch, which is perceived to be worse than bullying by the students.
When a shy and sensitive Shay (Ali Haji) is picked by his drama teacher, Murali (Kunal Kapoor) for the role of Bassanio in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, the play to be performed for the school’s 50th Founders Day, the bullying just gets worse for him. All because Baadal, son of a movie star thinks he fits the role better. And when Murali makes him Shay’s under study for the role, all he has to do is get Shay to refuse the part. But when Shay’s quiet determination to play his character makes him disregard Baadal’s wishes – the price has to be paid. First by his best friend Gunzu (Hardik Thakkar) and then eventually by Shay. And when a well-meaning Murali steps in to sort things out for Shay, things take a murky turn.
As preparation for the play continues, Murali urges his students to shed their inhibition and channelize their anger with the thought of avenging or revenge, one of the central themes of Merchant of Venice. At one point when he says ‘Theatre imitates life’, little does he realize how fateful his words will turn out to be.
Noblemen addresses school bullying head on – and gives a very graphic picture of just how brutal it can get. And the psychological impact it can eventually have on one’s mind. It also tackles confusion about one’s sexual orientation, homophobia and the pressure to fit in. The pace does lag at points but overall the film headlines some very important issues.
As the students - Ali Haji, Muskaan Jaferi (as Pia), Hardik Thakkar, Mohommad Ali Mir and Shaan Grover deliver fine performances slipping into their roles effortlessly. Kunal Kapoor is charming and effective as Murali. And Soni Razdan as Shay’s mother is spot on as always despite her limited screen time.
Winter and the backdrop of mountains, makes for the perfect setting in ‘Noblemen’ as an unpredictable twist and the end of innocence makes its way here.
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