As a rule, I like films and series by Zoya Akhtar. Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd, Luck by Chance, Zindagi na Milegi Dobara, Talaash, Dil Dhadakne Do, Gully Boy, Made in Heaven --- I liked all of these. So the announcement of “The Archies a live-action musical film adaptation” interested me. The first look is out, though the film is to release in 2023. It is a puzzling first look.
The film has an ensemble cast of Mihir Ahuja (Jughead), Dot (Midge), Khushi Kapoor (Betty), Suhana Khan(Veronica), Yuvraj Menda (Dilton), Agastya Nanda (Archie) and Vedang Raina (Reggie).
This tweet from Netflix shows us a strange and unidentifiable universe. The hairstyles, the hats, suspenders, sweater vests, pinafores, full gathered skirts and other elements make us wonder where and when this story is supposed to be set.
So at least three star-kids (or nepo kids as social media derisively calls them) in there: Khushi Kapoor is Sridevi’s daughter and Janhvi’s sister, Suhana Khan is SRK’s daughter and Agastya Nanda is the grandson of Amitabh Bachchan.
People pointed out that this is everywhere in our society. People who build a business will hand over their business and assets over to their children not strangers. Kids of doctors become doctors and kids of IAS become IAS. So why does nepotism in the film industry amaze and irk so many of us, asked some of the tweeple.
Bollywood has a time-honoured tradition of plagiarism so people wondered whether the theme song was a rip-off of this.
Is this the time, sound and aesthetic that is sought to be recreated in the film?
Movies don’t always have to be about realism – sometimes they are just about escapism and/or fantasy points out this tweet.
Everyone in the first look teaser of The Archies is light-skinned. How does that happen in India where we are all wheatish? What of diversity/inclusiveness/representation – nil pointed out the commentator.
This is a mistake Bollywood has been making since forever. Why change now
A lot of viewers simply found it all unrelatable – the people, setting, clothing, styling, enjoying the sun (when we Indians are known to seek the shade when possible).
Why is everyone white, asked the tweeple. And by white we don’t just mean the colour of the skin but the aesthetic, fashion and the overall sensibility.
When? Is this the America of the 60s? Sure looks like it. But why?
We often see this and it gets embarrassing.
…The possible destruction of childhood nostalgia.
Some thought that the first look of The Archies looked like an ad for a clothing brand, some thought that the aesthetic was straight out of social media stories etc. Some wanted to cancel their Netflix subscription some pointed out that Bridgerton has more representation than this. The filmmakers will have to work hard on the script and story to create something that is relatable and enjoyable after the sort of backlash this has received.
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