The Archies
2023 · Directed by Zoya Akhtar
Original language: Hindi
- comedy
- drama
- romance
The story
Set in 1960s India, Archie and the gang navigate romance, friendship and the future of Riverdale as developers threaten to destroy a beloved park.
What it’s like
Saturated Technicolor warmth in a 1960s hill-town India: bright marigold yellows, bubblegum pinks and cornflower blues fill the frame, with soft-focus close-ups and a light, bouncy handheld that keeps the teenagers in motion. Days play out in sunlit lanes, mustard-gold afternoons and cosy wood-panelled rooms, while the period costumes and retro hair give everything a glossy, sugary finish. The soundtrack is the engine: upbeat 1960s-style pop numbers and sweet, sing-along ballads that break into dance at easy moments, with a playful, bright sound throughout. Its vibe is sunny, sweet and lightly nostalgic, a bubbly comedy with a gentle undercurrent of heartache and a few soft jolts of teenage drama. The pacing is brisk and buoyant, with the emotional arcs following friends who bicker, flirt and slowly grow up, a little more earnest about loyalty and first love than about anything darker. Intensity is very low: no violence, no gore, mild and non-explicit romance, and only brief moments of tension when the park is threatened. It suits a cheerful weekend watch, a feel-good comfort pick, or a bright playlist-style evening, and is for people who want music, colour and affectionate, uncomplicated teen warmth.
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