Netflix’s The Archies Musical Is Worth a Watch This Christmas

Looking for something other than The Crown or Leave The World Behind to watch on Netflix over Christmas? The Archies is a new reimagined musical version of the comic classic, set instead in 1960s India, and tells the story of the Archie gang protesting against a local oligarch threatening to ruin their town of Riverdale. The Indian film is in the Hindi language and is available to watch on Netflix now. Here’s why it’s worth a watch:

What is The Archies about?

First off, if you haven’t gleaned already, this isn’t Riverdale, the American CW show (also available on Netflix) that saw its final episode air earlier this year. This is a quite different incarnation of the Archie Comics characters, with more fun, songs and dancing than teen mystery drama. This version is set in post-colonial India in the 1960s, featuring the Archies characters that we’re all generally familiar with: Archibald Andrews (or Archie, played by Agastya Nanda), Betty Cooper (Khushi Kapoor). Veronica Lodge (Suhana Khan), Reginald Mantle (Vedang Raina) and Jughead Jones (Mihir Ahuja). Riverdale in the film was founded by Anglo-Indians, and the town’s centrepiece is Green Park, a place the Archie gang and other townsfolk grew up in and love.

‌But a clash between this sentimental attachment and business expansion looms when a local rich oligarch, Mr Lodge (played by The Serpent and Shantaram actor Alyy Khan) decides to bulldoze the park to build a huge hotel there as a redevelopment scheme. Our heroes aren’t best pleased, with Veronica finding it particularly difficult as Mr Lodge is her dad. Of course, they decide to protest against it and find a way to stop it from happening, and much of the film is told through song and dance numbers with some impressive choreography. Meanwhile, Archie himself is in a classic coming-of-age conundrum as contemplates whether he wants to win the affections of Betty or Veronica.

What else do we know?

‌The film is directed by Indian director Zoya Akhtar and takes inspiration from the 1960s counterculture in America for its rock n roll style and story. It’s cheesy fun but with a heartfelt style and endearing tribute to the original comics. The Archies is available to watch on Netflix now, so be sure to add it to your Christmas watchlist, you can watch the official trailer below.