Gen Z report card of The Archies

lsquoI saw myself on screenrsquoThe ArchiesOn NetflixDir Zoya AkhtarCast Agastya Nanda Suhana Khan Khushi KapoorRating 4Growing up summer vacations were synonymous with trips to the library to thumb through musty volumes of Archiersquos comics with their pages yellowed I knew the world of Riverdale as well as I knew IC Colony which is in some aspects a different version of the fictional smalltown of 1950s America I say this because when I started watching The Archies Zoya Akhtarrsquos version of the comics that have endured across generations I was struck by a feeling I didnrsquot expect relatabilityThe ldquoIndianrdquo version of Riverdalemdashor AngloIndian rathermdashis an adaptation that takes up the story of the comics literally While literal adaptations donrsquot always work when it comes to popular stories take Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast for example which felt boring and unpredictable I liked The Archies because it took me back to a world I was so used to inhabiting Itrsquos an unrealistic world that you can still get lost in although it is tailormade to appeal to a specific kind of demographic young aspiring Indians seeking to seem cosmopolitan and worldlywise Thatrsquos perhaps the reason it was released on OTT and not cinemasThe Archies starts off with a veneer of polish that seems artificial at first but then turns out to be surprisingly endearing In the film which is twoandahalfhours long Agastya Nanda embodies the clueless earnestness of Archie Andrews well bringing out his teenage charm perfectly As Betty Cooper Khushi Kapoor is apt as the girlnextdoor while Suhana Khan sashays around as Veronica If the film had not been based on Riverdale so strongly it would have failed to leave a mark It also seeks to explain the angst and uncertainty comingofage in a way that will resonate with todayrsquos young Gen Z who are cautiously venturing towards adulthood The frame at the end of the movie where the gang gambols together in the park is a snapshot of young happy teens on the cusp of adulthoodWhat worked for the film was its portrayal of naive teenagers trying to change the world What didnrsquot was the fact that it is unrealistically perfect a world in which everything can be solved by the determination and energy of youthBut coming back to the relatability Instead of indianising the characters a believable context is created for them to exist an AngloIndian community secluded away in the treeladen expanse of North India They wear dresses and hats bake cakes and sing along to Sam the Sham and The Pharaoahrsquos Wooly Bully and mix up their hogas and honges and karega and karenges Itrsquos what Irsquove grown up doing and this feels like the smallest glimmer of representationDuring the latter half of the movie when Archie is experiencing second thoughts about his moving to England for further studies his father tells him ldquoThis is our home Archie Wersquore a minority here But this is our homelandrdquo Akhtar may not have intended the film to represent minority communities but it did feel like thatThe Archies crew at a Netflix event earlier this year in Sao Paulo PicGetty ImageslsquoItrsquos not revolutionary itrsquos funrsquoThe ArchiesOn NetflixDir Zoya AkhtarCast Agastya Nanda Suhana Khan Khushi KapoorRating 2When the Archies poster debuted half the netizens seemed prepared to hate the movie already The two main reasons being ldquoAb iska bhi Indian versionrdquo and the ldquolaunch of the star kidsrdquo flaring up the nepotism debateNot only has Zoya Akhtar delivered a seamless plausible backstory for the hillstation setting of Riverdale an AngloIndian community town but despite the dearth of material the star kids have also paid their dues Khushi Kapoor carries the doeeyed charm of Betty Cooper elegantly Suhana Khan embodies a bratty yet lonely Veronica Lodge and Agastya Nanda manages to pulloff an innocuous Archie Andrews who is too confused to commit without making you hate the character However it is Vedang Raina as Reggie who suavely steals the show reminding you of a younger Ranveer Singh Another stand out is Yuvraj Menda as Dilton an extremely loveable knowitall nerd The scene that stood out for me the most is a moment between these two when Reggie tells Dilly ldquoI know how you feel for me and I know how hard it must be for you knowing that I donrsquot feel the same way But Irsquom always here for you as a friendrdquo Unlike most dialogues in the film which felt convoluted this exchange felt sweet and sincere Amongst the lead cast we also have Jughead and Ethel played by Mihir Ahuja and Dot who never really get a chance to make their markWhere for a musical where the film does fall short ironically enough are the songs Therersquos none that I would search for after having watched the film or remember at least not for the right reasons The choreography in the party at Veronicarsquos house looks like they were angling for a unique Wednesdayesque dance but just ends up looking odd Even Va Va Voom which tried to have cutesy but awkward 70s bollywood dance steps only ended up looking awkward To their credit the actors manage to make it workThe setting is the saviour Reminiscent of the original comics Akhtarrsquos lighthearted brightset frames are incredible to look at and make more sense than Netflixrsquos original Riverdale series The film doesnrsquot try to cater to the adults It doesnrsquot make teenagers look like they are trying to be 25 It maintains their freshness naivety and understands what the charm of idealism looks like for a 17yearold and the belief you have to change the worldWhere I think people are too harsh is in expecting Archies to have the same depth as a Gully Boy or a Dil Dhadakne Do These catered to adults But as the comics catered to kids maybe the movie too is meant for kids ldquoBut I grew up reading Archiesrdquo you may say but what you miss is that yes you grew up The film is not meant to cater to your worldview as a millennial or GenXer today It is for an audience much neglected by Bollywood the kids the Gen Alphas I am sure itrsquos a movie I would have loved as a 13yearold So maybe just let it be that It doesnrsquot have to be revolutionary It can just be fun Afterall when was the last time Bollywood did something for themmdashToonpur ka Superhero