Image was shared on Instagram. (Courtesy: zoieakhtar)

Mumbai:

 When filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and co-writer Reema Kagti got down to inform the story of The Archies, an adaptation of the well-known American comics they grew up on, their objective was to seize the idealism and rebellious spirit that got here to outline the Nineteen Sixties period.

The movie follows the lifetime of widespread fictional youngsters — Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, and Reggie Mantle — who navigate romance and friendship within the Nineteen Sixties as they arrive collectively for the way forward for their city, Riverdale, when builders threaten to destroy a beloved park.

The decade wherein the story is about has come to be identified for the anti-war protests, civil rights motion in America, the hippie tradition and the music of The Beatles and Bob Dylan, amongst many different issues.

“The ’60s were the time when there was a peace movement, a revolution that happened, and all the Bob Dylan… There was an idealism that we will make the world a better place. That was the era where they believed that they could change the world. There was a bit of rebellion, peace and love. It was also the era of rock ‘n’ roll.

“So, that entire feeling of that period is what we needed to usher in. It is a straightforward young-adult really feel good story,” Akhtar instructed PTI in an interview.

The director stated it was difficult to mix the “innocence” and “simplicity” of that period with a up to date narrative.

“We are the Archie generation and it resonates with us, and people who have read The Archies will come in because they love the comic but there are kids today who do not love the comic… We needed to have a strong story and package it in nostalgia and innocence,” she stated.

Kagti, who has penned the screenplay with Akhtar and Ayesha Devitre Dhillon, stated The Archies was created with the intention of constructing it related for everybody, even those that have not learn the comics.

“There are a lot of people who don’t know who Archie is or they don’t read Archies anymore… To our generation it was a different thing. At a time when there was no mobile or TV or OTT, Archie had a different meaning,” she stated.

“We are fans (so) you don’t want to mess it up and do injustice to something that you have loved and revered. We had to do the film in a way that it is relevant to everybody,” she added.

The Indian live-action musical movie marks the acting debut of superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan; superstar Sridevi and film producer Boney Kapoor’s daughter Khushi Kapoor, and megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda. The film also features Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina, Dot and Yuvraj Menda in key roles.

Akhtar said she loved collaborating with all of them. “There are seven newcomers, Mihir (Ahuja) has done work before, he is the only experienced actor. But there’s wide eyedness, hunger, and as everything is new and fresh so there’s enthusiasm that doesn’t come with big stars or actors who have worked for a while or experienced actors. That’s refreshing and contagious, that enthusiasm. So, you want to do the best for them as well.” The Archies is produced by Akhtar and Kagti beneath their manufacturing home Tiger Baby, Graphic India and Archie Comics. It is scheduled to launch on December 7 on Netflix.