Some of the best hindi movies I’ve seen of 1980s
Jaane Bhi Do Yaroon(1982)
You cannot miss this movie if you were born in 1980s, regardless of what year. This movie was made with clear intention and it was to bring the genre of slapstick comedy in front of India audiences with a twist. And it did so in 1982-83, The movie had rare reviews and raves about it. Perfect acting by Naseer, Om Puri and Pankaj kapoor, followed by ravi baswani, satish shah, nina gupta and satish kaushik, though that lady reported or editor was also in for good support.
Chasme Buddoor(1981)
THis movie heralded one of the most obvious onscreen (Jodi) of Farookh Sheikh and Deepti Naval or Ms Chamko. It had a bueatiful backdrop of urban Dehli which at that time was something else than what it is today, balanced, quite in nature and full of radiance. Its a typical story of three guys chasing one girl and in the end only one gets it, and everything from starting to ending is worth watching again and again. Saeed Jaffery’s character as Lallan Mia stood out as rare and funny.
Sharaabi(1984)
This movie was talk of the town in 1984. Was this not only best movie amitabh did in 1980s or what? I don’t know, its only my opinion, it was his image all the way in this movie, the dialogues, the acting, the screen play and the direction was marvellous. Definetly worth watching again and again.
Saaransh(1984)
Without this movie you wouldn’t have anupum kher and rohini hattangdi. This movie shot up the careers of two struggling actor and actress in Indian cinema in the 80s. Anupum Kher, who rarely made a movie before this one, if you notice you will see his back shot behind the camera in Jaane Bhi Do Yaroon. He was that desperate that he had to do cameo roles for couple of seconds. Rohini on the other hand was caught between Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. And she some how managed to secure the role in saraansh and you will see how when you see her in another movie called Party. She went beyond shabana azmi and smita patil. And probably the first Indian actress to strip semi nude and then full in front of camera.
Arjun(1985)
Sunny Deol’s Perfomance and potrayal of the youth in the 80s was definetly the landmark film he has ever done to this date. apart from Ghayal, Tridev, wishwatama, and Ghatak he can say that he has done one role that Amitabh bachan perfected in many of his film was the angry young man look. This movie was best for its hard and gritty backdrop of mumbai underworld in the 80s and the urban look. And the corrupted government officials and politicians.
Ardh Satya(1983)
Govind Nihlani’s debut Breakthrough Film in 1983. Saw om Puri who had no looks but had weight behind his acting take the center stage as a frustrated Cop who is caught between the corruption of governament and police departments and Mumbai’s Underworld and Peety Crimes. Smita Patil Gives a minor support but a noticible charcter she potrays. Sadashiv Amrapukar’s Debut film and he displays his acting as as a local Underworld Don Turn Coporator and he delivers it step by step and really a serious acting which you see him in later late 80s and early 90s movies such as Elaan E Jung and Tirangaa.
Mirch Masala(1986)
This movie was the last movie that Smita Patil Act in, Ketan Shah directed this movie with such a perfection and the story is so revealing that you wonder why they don’t make films like these today, this movie has a strong point to make for the woman’s liberation movement in the 1980s in India which brought about the change in early 1990s. Its a story set during british Raj in India and in a remote rajasthani villiage. The people of town only worshipped one man and it was Subedar potrayed by Naseeruddin Shah who was appointed by British to go in to the the villiage to check up on things happening once in a year or so, and he takes advantage of his position to loot the town people and rape their women as he pleased in front of their eyes.
Smita was one such that the subedar laid his eyes on and she stood up for herself by denying him to rape her and she does that by hiding in a local spice plant run by a dozen or two women from the village, Om Puri is the old gaurd of that Plant, and whatever happens between that time is what the movie is all about, and it also has the right ending. A must see movie.
Karma(1986)
A mutli Cast movie made by Subhash Ghai, Jackie, Anil and Naseeruddin Shah are three bad apples of the society and Dilip Kumar is the only one who has the ability to change them into a good citizen by making them do good deeds for their country and making them perform bravery acts against Country’s Enemies, Dr Dang famously potrayed by Anupam Kher. This movie was megahit in 1986, it had songs, acting, melodrama, action and you name it. Also good about this movie was that it was mostly shot outdoors and scenic places, and you can sense the natural bueaty of the movie. THis movie also won the national award that year.
Ram Teri Ganga Melli(1985)
Raj Kapoor’s Final Film which he directed Famous Mandakini and His son Chimpu Kapoor, if I am correct. Though the movie’s story wasn’t that good but the songs were really good. The lavish production gave this movie a good profile in Indian blockbuster during that year. It was second highly rated movie due its songs and outdoor shotting.
Raj Kapoor also wanted to make (Heena) after this movie but sadly he passed away which his Borther Randhir Later made in 1990, which was a run away hit amongst Upper and Middle class Family during that year on VHS.
Few other notable movies which I love to watch again and again are
Mr. India(1987) Anil Kapoor and Sridevi made a memorable onscreen matchup and Mogambo Kush Huya was heard around the Indian population even to this date. And a fun and family movie.
Nagina(1986)- Possibly the best Hindi Dance cheoreographed movie of 80s and Songs were really good.
Chandani(1989) Nice songs and A good Story, Sri Devi’s best movie under her belt.
ChaalBaaz(1989)-Also another sri devi Starrer with sunny deol and RajniKanth.