Entertainment
The Archies Review: Zoya Akhtar Brings The Perfect Christmas Movie Date That Is Contemporary And Replete With Messaging
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Director: Zoya Akhtar
Cast: Agastya Nanda, Aditi Saigal aka Dot. Khushi Kapoor, Mihir Ahuja, Suhana Khan, Vedang Raina, Yuvraj Menda, Santana Roach, Rudra Mahuvarkar, Alyy Khan, Luke Kenny, Vinay Pathak, Koel Purie, Tara Sharma Saluja, Sheena Khalid, Delnaz Irani
Where: Streaming now on Netflix
Rating: 4 stars
Experiencing Zoya Akhtar’s sincere tribute to our cherished childhood comic feels deeply personal and, to some extent, cathartic. Having attended an Anglo-Indian institution and with my closest friends hailing from the community, Akhtar’s cultural portrayal resonates with remarkable accuracy.
In the initial stages of the film, a significant character recites a quote from William Faulkner: “You cannot swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Throughout Akhtar’s promotional campaign, she was often presented with a question that implied she had the freedom to create any film with desired actors and technicians, since she is well-positioned at the top of everyone’s wishlist. However, the filmmaker certainly understands how to enjoy the process and at times, prioritize art for its inherent purpose rather than solely for profit—an ethos that radiates throughout The Archies. As another character aptly notes, “to make art, you must go in, not out.” This clarifies her intention to establish a captivating world, with seven new faces taking centre-stage.
It is the year 1964, and Riverdale, a picturesque town nestled in the hills of North India, bears the traces of English influences in its essence. Inhabitants of this town carry the heritage of English ancestry in their veins, yet their hearts resonate with India as their true home. The beating heart of this town is the community garden known as Green Park. It is the very spot where Archibald ‘Archie’ Andrews (Agastya Nanda), Ethel Muggs (Aditi Saigal aka Dot.), Betty Cooper (Khushi Kapoor), Jughead Jones (Mihir Ahuja), Veronica Lodge (Suhana Khan), Reggie Mantle (Vedang Raina), and Dilton Doiley (Yuvraj Menda) took their initial steps as infants, following their birth in 1947. The resilience of their friendship and the future of the town are put to the test when a suggestion is put forth to construct a hotel instead of the park. Amidst the challenges, they navigate matters of the heart on the threshold of adulthood.
Co-written with her collaborators Ayesha Devitre Dhillon and Reema Kagti, Zoya incorporates multiple themes and concerns, and let me tell you, it’s a delicate path to navigate. Yet, it’s an ingenious move to employ cinema in the form of a musical to convey a message to a new generation that appears to be lost in the pursuit of validation through meaningless reels and endless scrolling on Instagram. The fear of maturing and taking on adult responsibilities, the shared social responsibility, the need for free press and critique, conflicts between humanity and nature, and the imperative need to engage in politics seamlessly align within the narrative, without any element standing out conspicuously. Incorporating all these elements, the film takes a sweeping journey down memory lane to a time when our lives were brimming with innocence and idealism. It harks back to an era where our eyes sparkled with aspirations and ambition. The melodies crafted by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Ankur Tewari and The Islanders perfectly capture the essence of The Archies. From the attire to the production design overseen by Suzanne Caplan Merwanji, to the cinematography skillfully executed by Nikos Anaritsakis, you’ll find yourself irresistibly pulled into this world as it unfolds in front of you. One aspect that the film might be criticized for is its length, an aspect where editor Nitin Baid could have exercised more consideration.
Setting that aside, there isn’t a single false note that can be pinpointed in the performances delivered by the film’s young cast. Agastya effortlessly embodies Archie, a character that occasionally flirts, infusing idealism with his charm. Dot., as Ethel, is delightfully ambitious, and her character resonated with me the most. Vedang effectively portrays the neighborhood heartthrob Reggie, while Mihir, as Archie’s bro-dude Jughead, is hilariously on point. Suhana is aptly yet unconventionally cast as Veronica, a daddy’s princess with a heart. Khushi embodies the perfect girl-next-door who loves to bake. However, my favorite performance has to be Yuvraj as Dilton, the genius whose moment of truth will leave you deeply moved.
The Archies arrives on Netflix as an early Christmas gift, one that will leave you with a heartwarming feeling. It’s a film that you’d cherish revisiting with your friends on lazy Sunday afternoons.
Entertainment
Mom-To-Be Deepika Padukone Admitted To Hospital In Mumbai For Delivery, To Welcome Baby With Ranveer Singh Soon
![Mom-To-Be Deepika Padukone Admitted To Hospital In Mumbai For Delivery, To Welcome Baby With Ranveer Singh Soon](https://mumbaipress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Untitled-1-28.jpg)
Good news is just around the corner as Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are expecting their baby to arrive soon. On September 7, 2024, the actress was spotted arriving at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai for the delivery.
The Om Shanti Om actress was seen in her car in Mumbai on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi and later, Ranveer’s mother, Anju Bhavnani, and his sister, Ritika Bhavnani, were also seen arriving at the hospital.
However, is still unclear whether Deepika and Ranveer are at the hospital for their baby’s delivery or a routine checkup.
Entertainment
Smriti Khanna & Gautam Gupta Welcome Baby Girl For Second Time, Share FIRST Glimpse Of Newborn: ‘Family Is Complete’
![Smriti Khanna & Gautam Gupta Welcome Baby Girl For Second Time, Share FIRST Glimpse Of Newborn: 'Family Is Complete'](https://mumbaipress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Untitled-1-24.jpg)
Telly couple Smriti Khanna and Gautam Gupta have become parents for the second time. The lovely couple announced the news on Friday that they have welcomed a baby girl. Taking to social media, the couple shared a joint post featuring their elder daughter holding the newborn.
They shared an adorable picture on Instagram and wrote, “Anayka’s wish for a little sister, her gudiya, has come true, and our family is now complete.” Even shared the date of birth of their second daughter, which is ‘05.09.24.’
As soon as they shared the post on social media, fans and members of the film industry shared their love and blessings in the comment section.
Shilpa Shetty commented, “Oh my God! Congratulations to you and the family, @smriti_khanna.”
Dia Mirza wrote, “Oh my goodness Congratulations, my sweetheart! So much love to you and the family.”
In April, Smriti announced her second pregnancy. While making the announcement on social media, she wrote, “After a journey filled with more challenges than we ever expected, we are overflowing with emotion as we make this beautiful announcement: Our family is growing. Our darling daughter Anayka is stepping up to the role of big sister, and our dog Lucas is about to become the best big brother. We’ve dreamed of this moment and fought through tough times to get here. Our hearts are full as we share our joy with you. Baby #2 is on the way, and we couldn’t be more excited to meet our newest love. Here’s to new adventures and endless love as a family of four… plus paws! September ’24 it is.”
Smriti and Gautam met each other on the sets of Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi. Their onscreen romance transformed into real-life romance. In 2017, they tied the knot. They embraced parenthood for the first time in 2020.
Entertainment
Stree 2 OTT Release Date: When & Where To Watch Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao’s Blockbuster Film Online
![Stree 2 OTT Release Date: When & Where To Watch Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao's Blockbuster Film Online](https://mumbaipress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Untitled-1-23.jpg)
Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao’s Stree 2 is a sequel to the blockbuster horror comedy Stree which had released in 2018. Stree 2 released in theatres on August 15, 2024, and received an overwhelming response from audience, becoming the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2024. It is set to drop on OTT in September.
When and where to watch Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank?
The series will premiere on OTT on September 27, 2024. Audiences can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
Plot
The plot revolves around three friends named Vicky, Jana and Bittu, who discover a new threat in the town of Chanderi. When a headless mysterious entity abducts a woman from the village, the trio embarks on a journey to save their town from the devil. The film reveals how they ensure the safety of the villagers with the help of Stree’s daughter.
Cast
The film features Shraddha Kapoor as Stree’s daughter, Rajkummar Rao as Vicky, Pankaj Tripathi as Rudra, Abhishek Banerjee as Jana, Anya Singh as Chitti, Mustaqueem Khan as Durga, Akshay Kumar as as Sarkata’s descendant, Mushtaq Khan as MLA, Sunita Rajwar as Jana’s mother, Varun Dhawan as Bhaskar, and Badriprasad Chavan as Lokesh among others.
All about Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank?
The horror comedy film is written by Niren Bhatt and directed by Amar Kaushik. It is produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Dinesh Vijan under Jio Studios and Maddock Films. Jishnu Bhattacharjee has done the cinematography, and Hemanti Sarkar has edited the film. Sachin–Jigar and Justin Varghese has composed the music.
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