Archie in Bollywood?How an American comic became the subject of an Indian Netflix movie

First produced in the 1940s, Archie comics inspired an entire generation of Americans: cheerleading squads, trips to Pop Tates’ soda shop, hamburger and hot dog feasts, love triangles, and even academic challenges. It was symbolic in the sense that it defined it. Comics have always been an escape, and Archie was no exception.

Archie Comics has long had a cultural influence in India, giving readers their first taste of American life and even influencing some Bollywood films, industry insiders say.

Welcome to “Are you ready to go back in time? arches” Akhtar wrote in a post on his official Instagram account while sharing the trailer of the film.

The much-talked-about film stars actor Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan, film producer Boney Kapoor’s daughter Khushi Kapoor, and veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda.

“I spent much of my childhood surrounded by Archie Comics, so I’m excited to introduce ‘Riverdale’ to this generation,” Akhtar said in a statement. The characters are iconic, their teenage lives were innocent, the world was simpler, and it was a time when less was more. ”

The main character, Archie Andrews, debuted in 1941 in the popular Pep Comics anthology series produced by MLJ Magazines (later renamed Archie Comics Publications). American soldiers overseas fell in love with the Archie comics they were sent, and the character appealed to many of the post-war generation who wanted something casual to read.

Archie’s friends include a lovable cast of characters, from food-obsessed Jughead Jones to smart girl-next-door Betty Cooper to rich and spoiled Veronica Lodge. Other characters such as Dexter the Nerd, Josie the Musical, and Moose and his girlfriend Midge also added color to the story. Michael Silberkleit, son of Archie’s co-founder and CEO in the 1980s, told the New York Times in 2005 that “everybody of every age is reading books.”

How India became ‘obsessed’

How did Riverdale and small-town American teen life become such an Indian obsession? We started giving people their first experience of American culture. Bollywood director Karan Johar has reportedly confirmed that his 1998 hit was a movie. Kuchikuchi hota hai It was at least partially inspired by Archie Comics.

It was Om Arora of Variety Book Depot, a bookstore in New Delhi, who discovered the potential of Archie Comics in 1974. Arora traveled to the United States to arrange for new comics, as India Book House, the main importer at the time, had only 500 books in stock. As they say, the deal is done and the rest is history.

According to a report in the Economic Times, by 2006 Arora was distributing Archie comics not only in India but across the region. He also started selling comics translated into various Indian languages.

Indian “Doctors” continue to uphold tradition and create fountain pens with the utmost care.

Delhi-based editor Nisha Verma, 41, first encountered Archie comics in her school library when she was 12 years old. She said, “I fell in love with the colorful pages and atmosphere, the bright illustrations, and the cool school life of Riverdale.” she said.

“As I grew up I happened to try reading novels and other serious books, but my love for Archie remained. Together with two of my closest friends, we picked up the latest issue of the comic. I think this temptation was a yearning because we were just starting out as teenagers.”

Comics “were pretty expensive in India,” says Priya Sharma, 50. She usually enjoyed borrowing books from the library.

“For us, they symbolized a utopian world where you could go on dates, wear fashionable dresses instead of uniforms, and eat fancy foods like hamburgers and hot dogs,” the ad said. the expert said. “To me, it represents a time of innocence.”

Prior to a change in management at the publisher in 2009, there was a greater emphasis on representation, and the Indian-American character Raj Patel appeared in Archie Comics for the first time. The series also tackles serious issues such as the recession, same-sex marriage, and gun control. There was also a zombie story.

The art style has also changed over time, from the stylized versions of the originals to the more cartoonish drawings of the 1990s, and more recently, digital artwork.

2017 riverdale The television series produced by Warner Bros. brought the antics of Archie and his friends to the small screen. Meanwhile, a webcomic known as “Bite Sized Archie” has also been successful, and a paperback version has also been published.

Jatin Varma, founder of Comic Con India, said Archie was one of the first international comic series to be available in India, adding, “Easy access to this comic has definitely helped create fans.” Ta.

“Plus, the content itself, the characters, the story, and the whole Americana experience was something that most kids loved, especially at the time,” he said. “In fact, I remember some parents encouraging their children to read Archie just to improve their English reading comprehension. That may not be the case, but there are millions of millennials for whom Archie has always been a part of their lives. So the interest and popularity will continue.”

Zoya Akhtar’s upcoming Netflix film is set in a hilly Indian region called Riverdale in 1964, and the characters are drawn from the Anglo-Indian community. Archie plans to leave Riverdale and become a full-fledged musician, but he changes his mind when he hears of a redevelopment plan proposed by Veronica’s financier father.

Enthusiastic fan Vignesh Vancheeshwar, 37, a Chennai-based retail marketing consultant, says, “Archie comics are made to be so relatable that you immediately get immersed in all of their essence.” Now I can do it,” he said.

“The school setting, the friendships, the girls, the passion for jalopies (cars), the goofy friends who love food, the love triangle, the principal, the janitor, the neighborhood hangout cafe, the glamor, the slapstick humor, the emotions – most countries , especially everything that is part of the lives of American teenagers was there,” he said.

“The world has always been obsessed with America, which is a trendsetter in many ways, and we still consume a ton of their content.”