Love 86 (1986)

Left to right: Leena, Omi, Vicky, and Esha. Now what does that spell?

I will admit that I don’t expect a lot from unsubtitled 80s movies, but this was awfully sweet. I can’t pretend that I understood everything that happened, but the basic plot was standard, and sound effects alerted me if anything dramatic was happening. Leena and Esha (Neelam) are sisters, whose mother, Lakshmi (Tanuja) wants them to get married to rich men with prestigious jobs. She isn’t interested in anything irrelevant like her daughters’ happiness and she’ll stop at nothing to get them to do exactly what she wants. She’s just a wonderful evil bitch, I loved it.

Even her dog doesn't like her!

Of course, Leena and Esha fall in love with two brothers Omi and Vicky (Govinda) who are completely unsuitable because both their incomes and wardrobes seem to be primarily based in petty theft. They’re very cute, though, and four of them have to battle society, Lakshmi's machinations, and the law to prove their love and stay together.

Oh yeah, she totally faked her own funeral because her daughters ran away.

This is one of Govinda's first movies, and he's pretty great. Not that I don't also like the ridiculous David Dhawan comedies, but he's pretty appealing as the young, disco-dancing romantic hero. Also, rocking the leather pants.

The movie has much romping around in flower gardens and finding flimsy excuses to take off their clothes in the rain.

Isn't it awkward doing your sexy rain song in the same room as your brother or sister?

There’s also longing and pining and beating people up and dancing in ridiculous 80s outfits, so it’s really has all you need in this sort of movie. The sisters get a cute intro song and even help beat people up when necessary.

I cannot express how much 6-year-old me would have wanted that dress.

I occasionally got the impression that this movie had something to say about love in the modern age (such as it was, 27 years ago) but it’s hard to pick up on this stuff when your Hindi maxes out at “Yeh shaadi nahin ho sakti!” So instead I will end with the delightful Aayee Hai Barat, in which Omi and Vicky serenade Lakshmi about marrying her daughters and she grumps at them from the balcony.