With an estimated time frame of two hours and twenty-three minutes, Zoya Akhtar’s film The Archies captivated us with its charming visuals and endearing characters. We are thrilled that the film has brought our favorite fictional characters closer to reality on television. Keep reading to get more insight.
On Thursday, December 7, 2023, Netflix India’s most eagerly anticipated romance musical was able to break free from its curiosity and made its way into the public eye. The film resulted in an array of reaction from its cinema enthusiast audience, with stars Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, and other newcomers to Bollywood. The film features a number of stunning visual moments that take spectators to their childhood and their favorite comic book, from charming cottages to exquisite interior design. Fans are getting more and more excited as they prepare to dive into the vivid and fascinating world of Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, and Archie Andrews.
“The fictional Green Park looks less like a rustic park one would associate with the Anglo-Indian community in the 1960s and more like a farmhouse in Vasant Kunj left by a rich baron as generational wealth for his South Delhi brat.”, says Deepansh Duggal from Outlook.
The location of the film is an Anglo-Indian hill station called “Riverdale” where the people are the life and the green park the soul of an enchanting place. There are mansions in lieu of houses in a fictional town of Riverdale, in addition to perfectly groomed lawns and decadent strawberry milkshakes.
“In ‘ The Archies’, the opulent aesthetic has an identity of its own. It is the only character that’s doing its job in a star cast that is barely able to justify its presence on screen. ” Says Duggal.
In the particular case of “Archies,” it seems like the narrative and sets were put together to fit an urban-looking ensemble, primarily affluent Bandra boys and girls, rather than the other way around. The least of “Archies'” issues are an over-reliance on posh aesthetics and the compelled integration of an Anglo-Indian population in 1960s India. There is a lack of self-awareness in the show.
The entire movie looks to be missing certain fundamental details, much like the wardrobe department of the 2000 movie “Mohabbatein” didn’t know what the local temperature was, as seen by the cast members’ varying sleeveless tops and sweaters. This comparison is done in the article by Deepansh as well.
Zoya Akhtar says, “I definitely wanted a time that was gone. I wanted to go back to what Archies meant for us, a time when less was more, when people had lesser things but were happier. It is a great feeling to recreate or capture that idealism and innocence. It is a good time to put out this sensibility into the world right now.”
It is evident that a wide range of colors was used, with cool, muted tones representing the night’s essence and vibrant golden hues used during noon moments. Every frame is a canvas painted with the characters’ emotions as well as a tool for telling the story.
Character development is greatly helped by fashion choices, which also carry us to the setting and add to the visual storytelling’s dynamic element.
“The Archies” is a cinematic masterpiece that, despite some technical errors, is a beautiful feast for the senses with every frame adding to the immersive tale. It’s an aesthetic celebration, where the perfect fusion of lighting, music, visual effects, and cinematography results in an unforgettable treat for the viewer’s eye.
Article by- Vanshita Kanjani | Edited by- Apurv Nayak
