881

If ABBA could sing in Hokkien, they might have auditioned for Royston Tan’s 881, an exuberant re-creation of the campy and uniquely Singaporean musical performance genre of getai. 881 (pronounced ba ba yao in Mandarin) is a pun on the band name adopted by the heroines, the Papaya Girls. Despite their passion for getai, the best friends are frustrated with the lack of “feel” in their singing, and beg their manager (and wardrobe consultant) Aunt Ling to introduce them to her estranged twin sister, the Goddess of Getai. She bestows magic powers on the girls after they agree to abide by five rules, which among other things forbid loving or being loved by a man.

They become an overnight sensation, but soon are assailed by obstacles. Big Papaya is ostracized by her mother, while Little Papaya futilely hides her deteriorating health. However, the sisters’ most dangerous threat comes in the form of rival Durian Sisters, who resort to the ugliest trickery to sabotage their careers. Sexy, bitchy and dressed to kill (literally), they are as prickly and pungent as their name suggests.

881 is not mere self-conscious parody, but Tan’s heartfelt love song to a nostalgic folk culture with roots all over Asia. Each frame is a carnival of untamed colors and textures; watching it is like having to eat all 31 flavors of Baskin-Robbins in one sitting. If you see it in the same mood as watching a Bollywood musical, 881 is a hugely enjoyable experience.