This is an archive article published on November 9, 2023
Zoya Akhtar on The Archies’s trailer: ‘It gives a little taste of the story, plot and drama’
Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, the makers of Netflix's upcoming coming-of-age drama The Archies, talk about creating a fictional hilly town of the 60s, reaching out to a wider audience, and creating catchy music for the film
Written by Alaka Sahani
Mumbai | November 9, 2023 12:28 PM IST
3 min read
Whatsapp
twitter
Facebook
Reddit
The Archies trailer marks the debut of Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda and Khushi Kapoor, among others.
Listen to this article
Zoya Akhtar on The Archies’s trailer: ‘It gives a little taste of the story, plot and drama’
x
00:00
1x1.5x1.8x
The trailer of one of the most-anticipated upcoming releases — Zoya Akhtar-directed The Archies — dropped today, offering a peek into the fictional world of Riverdale, an Indian hill town in the 60s with a thriving Anglo-Indian community.
It’s evident from the trailer, imbued with the 60′ vibe, that at the heart of the movie is the friendship of a group of teenagers. “We wanted the trailer to show the world that the movie is set in and its characters. We also wanted to offer glimpses of the story that underlines their friendship and coming of age,” says Akhtar, who has co-written the film with Reema Kagti and Ayesha Devitre.
Moments after showing the dreamy ‘Riverdale’ town, the trailer throws up an existential question with one of the teenagers wondering what they are doing with their lives. “That’s the graph of the characters — they start at a certain place and through the film they have a certain growth. The trailer gives a little taste of the story, plot and drama,” says Akhtar.
This, of course, is just a peek into what’s going on with these teen characters’ minds. A lot of actions will unfold in the course of the 2.14-hour movie, adds the director.
The trailer features two of the movie’s songs, ‘Sunoh’ and ‘Va Va Voom’ that captures the ‘60s rock-and-roll feel. “There is a lot of music in the film. The film is set in a certain era. So obviously all the songs are not rock and roll. Each one has a different tempo. I enjoyed being part of the process of creating these songs and shooting them,” Akhtar shares.
‘Va Va Voom’ is composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, written by Javed Akhtar and sung by Tejas Menon. ‘Sunoh,’ created by Ankur Tewari and The Islanders. While working on the movie, one of the concerns that Akhtar and Reema Kagti had was how it would appeal to the younger generation.
“The new generation of viewers, who don’t know anything about Archies, would get the feeling that they are in a fictional town,” says Akhtar. They also wondered what they should do thematically that can resonate with the youngsters today. The trailer shows the group of friends, played by Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Mihir Ahuja, Suhana Khan, Vedang Raina, Yuvraj Menda and Dot, fighting to protect a park in Riverdale.
Kagti says that with The Archies, they are reaching out to a wider section of the audience — from the age group of 8 to 80 — for the first time. “We were going back to a time when less was more. Today, people don’t know a world without mobile phones and social media. None of these existed then. Hoping that the young audience will connect to it,” says Kagti.
Story continues below this ad
The Archies, an Indian Adaptation of Archies Comics, is a collaborative effort between Netflix India, Tiger Baby (founded by Kagti and Akhtar), Archie Comics, and Graphic India. The film releases on Netflix worldwide on December 7, 2023.
Alaka Sahani is a prominent film critic and journalist based in Mumbai. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of India’s most authoritative voices in cinematic journalism, known for an analytical approach and insights that transcend the standard cycle of celebrity journalism.
Expertise & Accolades
In 2014, Alaka was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film Critic. Her Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) citation specifically lauded her for "highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip" and for her ability to delve into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers. Her commitment to journalistic integrity was further recognised in 2019 with a Special Mention at the Red Ink Awards for her investigative feature, 'In Search of a Star'. Her article titled 'People Like Us', published in The Indian Express on March 27, 2022, was shortlisted for Red Ink Award, 2023.
Global Industry Leadership
Alaka’s expertise is sought after by major international and domestic film bodies:
Golden Globes: In 2025, she joined the international voting body for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes.
National Film Awards: She served on the prestigious jury for the 68th National Film Awards, helping select the finest contributions to Indian cinema.
Global Perspective: Her work consistently bridges the gap between commercial Bollywood A-listers and emerging independent talents, offering nuanced insights into both Indian regional cinema and international film trends.
Focus & Vision
Beyond the screen, Alaka is a dedicated observer of Mumbai’s vibrant theatre scene and the historical evolution of the moving image. Through her long-form articles and deep-dive interviews, she continues to challenge "tried-and-tested" templates, providing readers with a deep understanding of the artistic and systemic workings of the Indian and global film industry. ... Read More
3 min read
