Directed by Zoya Akhtar, much awaited OTT movie of the year The Archies was released on Netflix on December 7, 2023. Starring Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina, Yuvraj Menda, and more in the leading roles, The Archies is a teen drama based on the classic comic of the same name. The Archies revolve around the Anglo-Indian community based in North India in the fictional town of Riverdale as shown in the movie. The movie is based on the backdrop of the 1960s when a few Britishers decided to stay back in India and contribute to the society that the East India Company looted. Although The Archies is a fictional story, fans have been praising Zoya Akhtar for opting for mesmarzing locations for shooting. Notably, the makers of the Archies have revealed that the majority of the movie was shot in Tamil Nadu's hill station Ooty.
Hence, it can be said that the Riverdale shown in the Netflix movie The Archies is Ooty in real life. For instance, the fictional Greenpark has a massive similar to Ooty's Rose Garden. Notably, Greepark holds massive significance in the Suhana Khan starrer movie as the Anglo Indians come together to save the historical park. Not only this, the starting scene of The Archies movie which showcase Khushi Kapoor cycling through the town show the magnificent tea estate of Ooty.
Also, there is a school where Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda and other Anglo-Indians study with Indians in the town of Riverdale. Although the school in the movie is also fictional, there is a real-life school in Ooty that is historically connected to Anglo-Indians- Breeks Memorial School.
The Archies 'Real Life' school for Anglo Indians
Breeks Memorial School is located just 1.5 km from the Government Botanical Gardens, Ooty. Breeks Memorial School architecture also reminds India of its British colonial history. As per a report published in 2021, Breeks Memorial School nurtured Europeans, Eurasians, and even natives. Today, it is regarded as the pride of Nilgiris.
As per the information available, Breeks Memorial School is a Christian co-educational school established in 1874. The Ooty School was named after James Wilkinson Breeks, the first Commissioner (District Collector) of the Nilgiris. It was erected for the children of Europeans and Eurasians by public subscription shortly after his death, as a memorial to his services to the Nilgiris community.
When Breeks died in 1872, it was reportedly decided to establish a school in his name in memory of his services to the Nilgiris community. While the government paid a sum of Rs 13, 682 towards the cause, funds were raised through public subscriptions and debentures of Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000 respectively.
Ooty's Breeks school was reportedly designed in British style. The special architectural of the school that features are the cloister vault roof, the arched masonry decorations seen above many of the rectangular doors and windows, gable decoration above the central building, besides the narrow wooden staircases. At first it was a fairly successful institution. But in the late years, it steadily went downhill, and long ago was closed. In 1974, to celebrate the centenary year of the school, a new building was built within its campus and another school by name, Breeks Memorial Higher Secondary School was set up in the new building with a CBSE syllabus.