People Are Trolling ‘The Archies’ Before It Even Released. Should Star Kids Just Not Try Anymore?
As movies and series have become more accessible with OTT platforms, I feel like the current ‘woke’ culture expects these shows and movies to represent people from all walks of life. And don’t get me wrong, representation that makes sense in the story is understandable. But what irks me is when each and every show or movie is expected to represent someone or the other because otherwise you are considered to be “regressive”. Pair that with the nepotism debate that is evergreen in India and we have people just finding faults in star kids projects because it is A) not relatable enough and B) because it is a product of nepotism. I am referring to the recent hate Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies hos gotten which has star kids Agastya Nanda, Suhana Khan and Khushi Kapoor debuting. The film has been getting hate simply based on the teaser that was released 2 days ago and I ask why?
https://twitter.com/AryaJiIndian/status/1526123262559694848?s=20&t=LJvrbhsUEyQ0NsDBCSGT_w
All Nepotism Products in one frame 😂#Nepotism #TheArchies #SushantSinghRajput #NepoKids pic.twitter.com/l0x4tegAjZ
— Sweetheart (@Deewanaa_tera) May 16, 2022
While I understand that star kids definitely have an easier time finding projects which isn’t fair to talented outsiders, is it fair to completely dismiss their work without even watching it? If a product is genuinely bad and you dislike it, that is okay and your opinion is valid. But at least give the newbies a chance to prove themselves. And don’t you dare tell me that you have never enjoyed nepotist products. We all saw how well Gangubai Kathiawadi did. Other than Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor and so many of such esteemed actors are products of nepotism. Had they not been given a fair chance when they started out, they wouldn’t have succeeded and become so loved. Might I add, RISHI KAPOOR WAS ALSO A STAR KID! So yeah, don’t dismiss them without even giving them a shot.
"The Archies" web series
Ya Family series (nepotism series ) bhi kah skte .
Bollywood ke or bhi bure din aane baki hai .#TheArchies @ZoyaAkhtarOff— संदीप सिंह🇮🇳 (@sandipkrishna1) May 16, 2022
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan And Suhana Khan Have A Sweet Conversation As The Proud Father Shares ‘The Archies’ Teaser!
Netflix India bringing another cringe content #TheArchies and then wonder why they are not able to grasp the Indian Market. Man you guys definitely need to learn from #TVF. Support #TVF more so that we can get more down to earth relatable content.#NetlfixIndia #anotherflop
— Dope! (@desidopenerd) May 14, 2022
Also, let’s turn our focus to who started this whole thing, Kangana Ranaut. I empathise with whatever she might have faced when she first joined the industry due to star kids and nepotism. But that does not warrant her constantly shit talking and mocking them. She is a senior to them in the industry, I would expect her to have some maturity, grace and compassion. Just because they are star kids doesn’t mean it is alright for her and her cult following to shame them all the time. Recently in an interview, she literally said that they look weird and resemble boiled eggs. I don’t even know how to process that ‘insult’ but okay, I suppose. But she said that people don’t relate to them because they go abroad to study, only speak in English and eat using cutlery. Firstly, she does know that they are Indian too, right? Like I assume that Suhana Khan must have used her hands to eat food at some point at least. Secondly, India is ranked the second largest English speaking country in the world. So I don’t think speaking English is only reserved to star kids. Thirdly, seriously, Kangana? Their appearance? Grow up!
Hello @reedhastings this is the exact same reason why you are not able to capture Indian markets.
Do read the tweets about #TheArchies and you will yourself ask to stop producing this.#Netflix https://t.co/9EBTeSv0ez
— Radhe(💙,🧡) (@radhe1506) May 16, 2022
Kangana also praises the South Indian film industry a lot and I do believe that the praise and attention that regional cinema has been getting lately is warranted and refreshing. However, the South Indian film industry has many 2nd or 3rd generation actors who are products of nepotism. Exhibit A: Mahesh Babu who is the son of Krishna, a veteran in the industry, Exhibit B: Mammootty and Dulquer Salman, Exhibit C: Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan, Exhibit D: Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya and trust me, I am petty enough to go on and on, but you get my point. So then my question arises: is nepotism the real problem or is it only an issue when it was an inconvenience to you, Kangana?
Hello @reedhastings this is the exact same reason why you are not able to capture Indian markets.
Do read the tweets about #TheArchies and you will yourself ask to stop producing this.#Netflix https://t.co/9EBTeSv0ez
— Radhe(💙,🧡) (@radhe1506) May 16, 2022
Also Read: ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’: Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, Neetu Singh, And More Reveal Their Atrangi Yet Lovable Characters
If Netflix thinks Archies is competition to Pushpa, Master, RRR, Family Man & Panchayat, it's got its audience really wrong. Unless it wishes to continue bearing the losses for content that it likes, not that which masses like.
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 14, 2022
Now, people have also criticised The Archies for not being “relatable”. I am sorry, but when did it become the responsibility of a filmmaker to make each and every character and plot relatable? The same people complaining about this will be fine with watching over the top Rohit Shetty, Salman Khan and even some South Indian films. But somehow because they are star kids, you hold the product to a different standard? Plus, the job of a film or series is to entertain. Now whether or not a film is entertaining is open to interpretation and you are allowed to have your own opinion. But at least give the film a chance to entertain you! I am an average Indian who comes from an average household and lives an average life. I do not always want “relatable” content. If something is fictional, I treat it as such and enjoy the universe created for me to enjoy because that is the point of a good story! It is meant to make you like the characters even if they exist in a universe we aren’t a part of! There are many of us who just watch a product because we want to escape from our present life for a while. If I have to constantly watch stories about average people like me, where am I going to do that?
Some have also come in defence of The Archies and slammed the haters,
Luck By Chance, Dil Dhadakne Do is not just for rich kids, and it is not derivative of any western filmmaker. It is meant for all people who appreciate good quality cinema and human stories of different kinds of people. Sorry you did not feel "represented" in #TheArchies' world
— Nobita Nobi (@captainbolywood) May 16, 2022
multiple novels of western authors. No, #TheArchies is not disconnected from reality.https://t.co/ZbGfYp7OFv
It just has a different aesthetic, cinematography, look, feel, vibe like in Parekh & Singh music videos. It's the dumbasses who think all Indians are the same, live in— Nobita Nobi (@captainbolywood) May 16, 2022
https://twitter.com/shreemiverma/status/1525374465479426048?s=20&t=-x5zuKBomxm7G7p6hjFdeg
And who has told him that this is the answer to RRR & Pushpa. Can't different genres exist especially on premium OTT – or do we all just have to watch just one kind of film. I enjoyed Pushpa and I am going to watch the Archies as well.
— Naomi Datta (@nowme_datta) May 15, 2022
Instead of so much discussion on a film on a comicbook ( made by one of our best filmmakers who doesn't need your insights, tbh), please focus on how you will soon have an actor called Dot in films.
— Naomi Datta (@nowme_datta) May 15, 2022
Don’t understand why are people judging #TheArchies so much. I’d rather watch B’wood making utopian kid’s movies than Islamophbic Kfiles or Canada kumar’s ultra nationalist movies.
Take a chill pill.
— Nour (@koffeeTalkss) May 15, 2022
All in all, I don’t mean to say that star kids don’t come from a position of privilege. They quite obviously do. However, I do want to say that hating them just for being born to a parent(s) who happen to be actors is unfair. Nepotism and talent can co-exist. The Archies might actually be good with all the newbies showing actual potential. At least watch it before making up your mind about them.
