Release Date : December 7, 2023
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring: Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Aditi Saigal, Yuvraj Menda
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producers: Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Sharad Devarajan, Jon Goldwater
Music Director: Shankar – Eshaan – Loy, Ankur Tewari, The Islanders, Aditi Saigal, Jim Satya
Cinematographer: Nikos Andritsakis
Editor: Nitin Baid
Related Links : Trailer
The Archies starring Bollywood star kids Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Khushi Kapoor in the lead roles. Zoya Akhtar, who helmed the superhit Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, directed this musical film. Let’s see how it is.
Story:
The Archies is set in an Anglo-Indian town and is about a few friends Veronica Ronnie Lodge (Suhana Khan), Archibald Archie Andrews (Agastya Nanda), Betty Cooper (Khushi Kapoor), Reggie Mantle (Vedang Raina), Dilton Doiley (Yuvraj Menda), Jughead Jones (Mihir Ahuja), and Ethel Muggs (Aditi Saigal). They are all fond of Green Park, which is considered the heart of the town. Ronnie Lodge’s father decides to construct a hotel by cutting the trees over there. How the kids fought for the park is what the film is about.
Plus Points:
The Archies is a musical film and hence, it is essential that the songs must be good. Rightly so, the film has a beautiful album. Every song is superbly composed and presented on the screen. All the music directors associated with the film did a great job.
The stunning visuals and amazing production design are an added advantage. The film is based on the fictional American music band Archies, and hence, the idea of setting the story in an Anglo-Indian town is good.
The star kids Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Khushi Kapoor gave decent performances in their debut film. Out of the three, Agastya Nanda is more impressive. Despite less screentime, Vedang Raina leaves a solid impact. Mihir Ahuja, Aditi Saigal, Yuvraj Menda, and others are fine in their roles.
Minus Points:
The main point with which the film deals in the second hour is a beaten-to-death concept. The same should have been told in an even more engaging manner, as umpteen films dealt with the concept of saving nature.
Most of the scenes are bland, and the mellifluous songs and superb visuals make the viewing better. After a point in time, The Archies becomes too predictable, and we can easily understand where the film is heading.
More concentration should have been taken on the emotional part. The ending is pretty ordinary and cliched. Musical films like The Archies need to be more crisp. The editing is a letdown, as close to 10-15 minutes could have been chopped off easily.
Technical Aspects:
Music directors Shankar-Eshaan-Loy, Ankur Tewari, The Islanders, Aditi Saigal, and Jim Satya did an excellent job giving the retro vibes. The cinematography by Nikos Andritsakis is beguiling, capturing some aesthetic locales. The production values are superb. The editing isn’t satisfactory.
Zoya Akhtar’s magic is missing a bit in The Archies, as she impresses only in a few scenes. The premise is promising, but the execution isn’t. The narrative is plain for the most part. If you are someone who liked the director’s previous works, The Archies will be a little underwhelming.
Verdict:
On the whole, The Archies is a passable musical flick with decent performances from the star kids Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Khushi Kapoor. The superb songs and stunning visuals are the biggest assets of the film, but the story and narration could have been much better. There are a few good moments, but one would expect an even better outing from Zoya Akhtar. Hence, the film ends up being just an okay watch.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team