Ever since the dropping of the teaser of ‘The Archies’, Zoya Akhtar has been contending with the public’s criticisms. Here’s how she answered back to the latest one!
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‘Characters don’t look Indian’ Condemns Critics.
On 13th May 2024, Director Zoya Akhtar launched the trailer of her latest film ‘The Archies’ which created a huge buzz among the masses, both positively and negatively. The film’s cast is a starry emsemble, with Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor and Agastya Nanda in pivotal roles.
Image Source: ThePrint
Soon after its release, the trailer was put under scrutiny and met with several criticisms by netizens. The latest one is that ‘the look of the characters do not seem Indian.’ In a few social media posts, trollers commented that the outfits, the outlooks and the fair skin of the characters do not replicate how Indians appeared in the 60s.
‘Fair Indians aren’t Indians?’ Zoya Lashes
Zoya Akhtar, undaunted, defended her project by questioning the critics on ‘How to define what is an Indian look?’
She further vindicated by telling the trollers to look beyond the stereotypical image of Indians as poor, dark and malnourished individuals and welcome the existence of diversity and creative freedom in our country. Moreover, she even states that this kind of remark hints at reverse-racism. “There are many Indians who are light-skinned.”, says Akhtar
For Zoya, films are a medium to celebrate heterogeneity. The story a movie narrates can be of any one of any demography – Hrithik Roshan…Mr. Rajnikant…Diljit Dosanjh or Mary Kom!
Duelling Trolls and Nepotism
Following the screening of the teaser at a TUDUM global fan event in Brazil by Netflix, this desi take on ‘Riverdale‘, has been received lovingly as well as judgmentally by the audience. For many, the sneak peek of the film brought back nostalgia. For many people, Archie comics remain a warming memory of their childhood, including the film’s maker Zoya Akhtar.
But, the cast and crew of ‘The Archies’ have been confronting the backlash of the public when they commented that the cast was a ‘multiverse of nepotism’. Agastya Nanda (Grandson of Amitabh Bachchan), Suhana Khan (Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter), and Khushi Kapoor (Sridevi’s daughter) play the roles of Archie Andrews, Veronica Lodge and Betty Cooper respectively.
The Gully Boy maker, in a chat, revealed that she tutored the debutantes on dealing with nepotism by controlling themselves because the rest of everything is beyond their control. Zoya implores them to focus on doing their job, like a Jedi!
Earlier too, the film faced back from of the public citing that the narrative and impression do not seem relatable to the Indian audience.
‘The Archies’: A Nostalgic Experience
For Zoya, who is thrilled to present the story to a newer generation, making the ‘The Archies’, was an exhilarating experience. She has adored the comic characters since her childhood and to see them take form in an Indian adaptation helmed by her was surreal and super exciting! The ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ director has added her nuances to the tale to connect it better with the younger viewers.
Image Source: India Forums
‘The Archies’ is a film based on the iconic comic series ‘Archie’. The setting of the film is in a quaint hill station and goes back to the retro era of 1964. The story is of an Anglo-Indian faction who resides in the charming, fictional town of Riverdale.
Apart from the protagonists, the cast also includes Mihir Ahuja as Jughead Jones, Vedang Raina playing Reggie Mantle, Yuvraj Menda as Dilton Doiley and Aditi Dot Seigal essaying the role of Ethel Muggs.
The much-awaited talkie has Zoya Akhtar as the Director and Reema Kagti and Ayesha DeVitre as the co-writers. ‘The Archies’, produced by Tiger Baby Films has its release on Netflix scheduled on November 24.
