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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.

Bollywood

Somy Ali on Aamir Khan’s wedding with Gauri: ‘It’s never too late to choose happiness’

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Mumbai, July 4: Former actress Somy Ali has reacted to Aamir Khan’s wedding with Gauri Spratt, scheduled to take place on July 5.

She shared a heartfelt message for the couple, saying it is “never too late to choose happiness.” Extending her best wishes, Ali expressed hope that they embark on a joyful and fulfilling new chapter together.

Taking to Instagram, Somy Ali shared their photo and wrote, “To Guari & Aamir, Love doesn’t follow a calendar. Finding someone to share your life with at any age is just as beautiful as finding them at 20. It’s never too late to choose happiness. A heart that’s open to love is something to celebrate, not criticize. Age is measured in years, but love is measured in moments.”

“Congratulations on finding yours. Some people spend a lifetime looking for the right person. If that journey leads to marriage at any age, that’s not late—that’s right on time. The courage to begin a new chapter is inspiring. Wishing you both a lifetime of joy, laughter, and companionship. The best love stories aren’t defined by when they begin, but by how deeply they’re lived.”

She went on to state, “May those who judge your age one day understand that happiness has no deadline. Growing older is inevitable; growing together is a gift. The greatest achievement isn’t marrying young—it’s finding someone worth growing old with. These sentiments celebrate love, companionship, and the freedom to pursue happiness at any stage of life.”

Recently, during the screening of ‘Pritam and Pedro,’ Aamir opened up about his wedding with Gauri. He revealed that it is going to be an intimate affair with only their close family members and friends in attendance.

Aamir shared, “Yes, we are getting married on the 5th. It’s a very small wedding; we are doing it at home. The 5th is a very special day for us. There will only be both the families, along with some close friends. We are getting married at home only. We only want everyone’s blessings that we remain happy.”

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PM Modi extends birthday greetings to Tamil Nadu CM Vijay; wishes him long, healthy life

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New Delhi, June 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended birthday greetings to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, wishing him a long and healthy life.

PM Modi took to social media ‘X’ and said, “Birthday greetings to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru C. Joseph Vijay Ji. I pray for his long and healthy life.”

Born on June 22, 1974, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, Vijay is an actor-turned-politician who currently serves as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Before entering politics, he was one of the most successful and influential stars of Tamil cinema and was popularly known among fans as ‘Thalapathy (Leader)’.

Vijay, whose full name is Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, is the son of film-maker S.A. Chandrasekhar and singer Shoba Chandrasekhar. He began his acting career as a child artist in the film ‘Vetri’ (1984), directed by his father, before emerging as a leading star in the Tamil film industry.

Over the years, Vijay established himself as one of the biggest names in South Indian cinema. Films such as ‘Kushi’, ‘Thirumalai’, ‘Ghilli’, ‘Pokkiri’, and ‘Sarkar’ significantly contributed to his popularity. While he initially gained recognition for romantic roles, he later reinvented himself as an action star known for portraying characters fighting for social and political justice.

His immense popularity among fans often drew comparisons with legendary Tamil actors who successfully transitioned into politics. Political themes in several of his films were widely viewed as indicators of his future political ambitions.

In 2024, Vijay formally entered politics by launching the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The party made its electoral debut in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and emerged as the single-largest party in the state, winning 108 of the 234 seats.

To secure a governing majority, TVK allied with the Indian National Congress and other parties. Vijay contested and won from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies. Following the election, he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026.

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Bollywood

Delhi HC adjourns Salman Khan’s plea against release of ‘Kala Hiran’ till July 1

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New Delhi, June 19: The Delhi High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s plea seeking to restrain the release of the proposed film “Kala Hiran”, without granting any interim relief at this stage.

A vacation Bench of Justice Madhu Jain directed that a complete copy of the plaint and accompanying documents be supplied to the respondent filmmaker and listed the matter for hearing on July 1.

During the hearing, Salman Khan’s counsel, advocate Nizam Pasha, submitted that the film is purportedly based on the actor’s life and has been produced without his consent.

While pressing for interim relief, Pasha also informed the high court that the poster and trailer of the film had already been released, though the release date of the movie is yet to be announced.

Opposing the plea for urgent relief, counsel appearing for the filmmakers submitted that they had not been served the complete set of documents in the case.

“On Wednesday, they served me only a copy of the application, not the plaint,” the counsel argued, adding that the filmmakers were receiving death threats over the project and that an FIR had already been lodged.

After hearing the parties, the Delhi High Court directed Salman Khan to furnish the complete set of documents, including the plaint, to the respondent and fixed the matter for arguments on July 1. Shortly thereafter, the actor’s counsel mentioned the matter again and contended that the filmmakers had already been served, seeking an earlier hearing date.

However, Justice Jain observed that the matter had already been listed in July and declined to advance the hearing.

The dispute reached the Delhi High Court days after Salman Khan’s legal team issued a notice to the makers of “Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy”, asking them to halt the release of the film and remove all promotional material, including posters and publicity content.

Directed by Bharat S. Shrinet and produced by Amit Jani, the film is inspired by the blackbuck poaching case involving Salman Khan and also portrays his alleged rivalry with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The makers have described it as a blend of courtroom drama and crime thriller mounted on an international scale.

The controversy surrounding the film has intensified in recent days, with producer Jani alleging that he has been receiving death threats ahead of the movie’s release. On June 18, Jani claimed that a Pakistani terrorist had threatened him with a drone and grenade attack over the film and said that he had informed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Rajasthan Police, and CRPF officials. Subsequently, Jani alleged that he received a second death threat within 24 hours.

In a complaint lodged with police in Jodhpur, he claimed that an unidentified caller, identifying himself as a Salman Khan fan, threatened to kill him within three days. The producer urged authorities to immediately register a case and arrest the accused.

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