In the review of ‘The Archies,’ Suhana Khan shines as the charismatic leader of an impressive star-studded cast.
Joya Akhtar has added another feather to her cap with ‘The Archies,’ this time adapting the beloved Archie Comics into a Hindi-English film.
Joya Akhtar rarely gets it wrong. She is a Bollywood powerhouse, a serene and artistically talented woman whose next project is always a mystery to everyone. So when the producer of Gully Boy (2019) decided to take on a comic book series for her new film, something we could describe as long overdue, it becomes an intriguing proposal.
The Archies’ story begins with the protagonist taking a group of tourists around Green Park, a favorite vast green lung around Riverdale run by eccentric Parsi gentlemen operating quirky bookshops and cozy saloons in the form of a beautiful hill station in India. At its summit, a central conflict, ‘Public Good vs. Corporate Interest,’ is declared in class by Dilton Doiley (played by Yuvaraj Mehta). They have returned wealthy parents of Veronica (Suhana Khan) who want to destroy the city for their interests.
A campaign is initiated by the teenagers to protect Green Park and Riverdale’s old ways. But before this, The Archies are entangled in the tropes of the perfect Archie – a love triangle, weird, hilarious methods of Jughead, Reggie’s resistance, and an attraction to Veronica, much like a fox’s to a vixen.
The narrative sticks to its original names, saving itself from the contemporary tradition of transforming names in Hindi. Akhtar, who extensively talks about her love for comics and old memories, gracefully absorbs its innocence and romance, announcing – not singing – to the world that she is taking a break from the chaotic world and is clear about her past attributes. In contrast to the profound revitalization of Riverdale, The Archies have established themselves in the early 1960s as a magnificent paradigm with the innocence and romance for which readers have cherished the comics.
Cinematography by Nikos Andritsakis (Ugly, 2013; Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, 2015) and beautiful frames are in harmony with Akhtar’s crazy vision. After the excellent performance in Sam Bahadur, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are back in form, complemented by Ankur Tiwari and Aditi Dot Sahgal (who also plays the character of Ethel Muggs), aligning the director’s preferred – music.
Akhtar deserves credit for marrying worlds that might seem completely different initially, for which the screenplay and dialogue are both credited. So, while dealing with the struggles of Betty and Veronica, Archie feels strongly about Riverdale’s purpose. In the context of this film, the purpose is a contemporary message about the need to protect institutions, nature, and innocence, delivered without the small preachy element. The screenplay uses its musical style judiciously, providing solutions to the internal struggles of the characters and establishing a seamless blend in cinematic brilliance.
The kids are alright. If you go into The Archies with a bit of preconception about some actors and their star-kid status, that’s okay. It’s refreshing to see that this is an exceptionally talented group, well-trained in artistic skills. Agastya Nanda works hard to not appear indifferent in his Archie, but Vedang Raina (Reggie), with energy comparable to Ranveer Singh, overshadows him. As Khushi Kapoor begins her acting journey, she doesn’t seem too intimidated in the beginning, where she has to compete with Prime Donna Veronica. Suhana Khan, enthusiastic and self-assured, later pens an essay on the pitfalls of her real-life father Shah Rukh Khan’s nature.