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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

Actress Ruchi Gujjar Hits Actor-Director With Chappal, Protests Against Him At Mumbai Theatre After Filing FIR Over ₹25 Lakh Fraud

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A dramatic scene unfolded at a Mumbai theatre during the screening of So Long Valley when actress Ruchi Gujjar hit the film’s producer and actor Man Singh with a chappal, leading to chaos at Cinepolis. The incident, captured in a now-viral video, came amid an ongoing financial dispute between Ruchi and another producer, Karan Singh Chauhan.

In the video, she is heard screaming while arguing with the producers. She then lost her cool and hit one of the producers with her chappal.

It appears that she arrived at the theatre with the intention of staging a protest. During the special screening, where the producers were present, Ruchi showed up along with a group of protestors. People around her were seen raising slogans against the producers.

They held placards with the producers’ photos, marked with red cross signs across their faces. In some of the posters, which can be seen in the video, the producers were depicted sitting on donkeys.

What is the case?

According to Ruchi, Chauhan had approached her last year claiming he was producing a Hindi television serial that would soon air on Sony TV. “He offered to add me as a co-producer and also sent documents related to the project,” she said, according to media reports.

Believing the offer, Ruchi stated that between July 2023 and January 2024, she transferred several payments from her company, SR Event and Entertainment, into accounts linked to Chauhan’s K Studios. However, the promised project never took off.

“Despite repeated contacts, he kept postponing them and lied,” she added in her complaint.

She claims to have discovered that the funds were allegedly used not for the serial, but for the production of So Long Valley. “When I got the information that the film is releasing on July 27, I told him to return my money now, on which he started threatening me,” she alleged.

Mumbai Police has registered an FIR under sections 318(4), 352, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Chauhan, 36, for allegedly cheating actress Ruchiof Rs 25 lakh.

Ruchi has submitted banking records and documents to support her claims. An investigation into the financial transactions and communications is currently underway.

Notably, Ruchi had earlier drawn attention for her Cannes appearance, where she wore a necklace featuring an image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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‘What A Shame’: Janhvi Kapoor Reacts To Kalyan Clinic Assault Case, Says Man Should Be Jailed For Thrashing Receptionist

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Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor reacted to the Kalyan clinic assault case and said the man should be in jail for thrashing the female receptionist. For those unversed, a video has gone viral which shows a man, identified as Gopal Jha, punching the receptionist, dragging her by the hair, and repeatedly assaulting her at Shree Bal Chikitsalaya, a paediatrics hospital, in Kalyan East on July 21.

Janhvi says the man should be jailed

Reacting to the incident, Janhvi took to her Instagram story on Thursday (July 24) and wrote, “This man needs to be in jail. Why does anyone think this behaviour is ok? What makes him think he can raise his hand at someone like this? What kind of upbringing convinces you to go through with these actions without any remorse, guilt or sense of humanity?”

“How do you live with yourself after knowing this is how your brain operates? What a shame. And shame on us for not punishing and condoning such behaviour more aggressively. Nothing excuses this,” the actress added.

However, on Wednesday, a new video surfaced on social media which shows that it was the receptionist who first slapped a woman and then charged at Gopal Jha. Reportedly, the woman she slapped is Jha’s sister-in-law.

The attack occurred after the receptionist denied Jha entry to see the doctor, who was attending another patient at the time.

The receptionist reportedly sustained serious injuries on her neck, legs, and chest, with concerns that she may suffer from partial paralysis due to the extent of the trauma. She has been admitted to Janaki Hospital.

Janhvi Kapoor’s work front

Meanwhile, on the work front, Janhvi is gearing up for the release of Param Sundari with Sidharth Malhotra. Directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan, the romantic drama will release in theatres. However, its release day is not confirmed yet.

Janhvi also has films like Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, alongside Varun Dhawan, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Maniesh Paul, and Akshay Oberoi, and Peddi with Ram Charan in the pipeline.

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Salman Khan REDUCES Fees For Bigg Boss 19, To Charge ₹150 Crore For 15 Weeks Of Hosting: Report

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Bigg Boss 19 is set to premiere in August, with Salman Khan returning as the host. This season is expected to be the longest yet, spanning five months. However, there has been no official confirmation so far. Earlier reports suggested that Salman Khan will host the show for the first three months, while Farah Khan, Karan Johar, and Anil Kapoor may take over hosting duties in the final two months.

Salman Khan To Charge Rs 150 Crore For Bigg Boss 19

Salman will reportedly earn approximately Rs 120-150 crore for hosting over 15 weeks, with a per-weekend fee of Rs 8-10 crore. This marks a significant pay cut compared to previous seasons; he was reportedly paid Rs 250 crore earlier, while his fee for Bigg Boss 17 was around Rs 200 crore.

According to several reports, this year, the Bigg Boss 19 house is set to have a ‘Rewind’ theme. While the exact pros and cons of the theme have not been disclosed yet, it surely will make the game tougher for the contestants.

The ‘secret room’, which was once a part of the Bigg Boss house, is set to make a comeback this season. Also, in a shocking twist, the audience will nominate housemates for eviction this year and not the contestants themselves. However, the contestants will then fight to save themselves from the evictions.

Salman Khan’s Work Front

Salman was last seen in Sikandar alongside Rashmika Mandanna in the lead, however, the film did not perform well at the box office.

Next, he has Battle of Galwan, directed by Apoorva Lakhia. In the film, Salman will play the role of an army officer.

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