Not many films since K. S. Sethumadhavan’s Julie in 1975 have been set in the Catholic community. Sure, we have had the token Uncle John, right there next to Rahim Chacha in mainstream cinema. But that’s just about it.
Zoya Akhtar’s desi adaptation of the globally beloved Archies comics is set in the Anglo-Indian community in the 1960s. The director of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara has recreated the era gone-by with meticulous care.
Says Zoya, “It’s been an absolute honour to be asked to make an Indian adaptation and the first-ever film for this very iconic Archies franchise. This is a surreal experience since Archie Comics was a part of my childhood. It is super-exciting to take these beloved characters and introduce them to a new generation but still keep the nostalgia of the original comic alive. We have set it in the Anglo-Indian community in India and can’t wait to transport you to the magical, fictional town of Riverdale.”
Newcomers play the main roles.Every actor was allowed to have his or her say. On location in Ooty there was a very democratic atmosphere . Everyone contributed to the scenes. There was no hard and fast rule about what should be said in a scene, and how. These are very young actors and they have strong ideas on what sounds right. If one of them was not comfortable with the words he or she was given to speak, the words were changed.
Zoya’s Archies is not a faithful adaptation of the original Archies comics. She has taken just the core characters and put them in an environment that audiences the worldover would connect with.Netflix hopes to achieve a global blockbuster with Zoya Akhtar’s Archies. It is rumoured to be the most expensive film to be produced in Indian by Netflix.
Set in the 1960s, this musical drama is being directed by Zoya Akhtar and headlined by an exciting fresh ensemble. The film will feature Mihir Ahuja, Dot, Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Yuvraj Menda, Agastya Nanda and Vedang Raina in key roles. The seven young actors will play the beloved characters from the hugely popular Archie Comics. The film has the iconic gang of The Archies’ at the center of it, and perfectly matches the youthful energy, hope and excitement of the sixties era.