Angry Young Men review: This Salim-Javed story is one you've never seen before!

Salim-Javed are names that need no introduction but Angry Young Men is a short, heartwarming documentary that attempts to capture who they are as both, individuals and writers.

Whether you're a film enthusiast or not, you've likely encountered the tag "written by Salim-Javed." While we credit them for penning iconic films like Deewar and Sholay, we often overlook their monumental contribution to creating the entire era of the angry young man, a persona forever linked with Amitabh Bachchan. This three-part documentary aims to fill that gap, successfully portraying the lives and struggles of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar—the duo that transformed Hindi cinema in the 70s and etched their names in history.

This documentary is divided into three episodes, each around forty-five minutes long, and it takes us on a journey from their individual struggles to their eventual success as a writing duo, a partnership that, unfortunately, was short-lived. What makes Namrata Rao’s debut film particularly holistically engaging is that, while it tells the story of Salim-Javed, it also offers much more. It weaves together the art of storytelling with rich contextual depth, reminding us that art, in this case, cinema, is never separate from the politics of its time. As we learn about Javed Akhtar’s arduous journey as a writer and Salim Khan’s struggles as an actor, culminating in their collaboration on films like Zanjeer, we also gain insight into why the 70s era needed them. Although male-centric and hero-worshipping, Salim-Javed's films emerged when the country’s frustration peaked. The public needed a male saviour, and thus, the rise of the angry young man, a morally upright hero who is angry and battling an unjust system, and he provided the audience with an escapism from bleak reality that everyone desperately craved.

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The documentary also delves into the personal lives of Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan, revealing how their experiences influenced their writing. Films like Deewar, Trishul, and Shakti were deeply personal, often reflecting their pain and losses, such as the early deaths of their mothers. This highlights the truth that great writers often infuse their work with a personal touch which resonates with audiences profoundly. Even the eventual dissolution of their partnership is portrayed not as a result of dramatic conflict but as a natural drifting apart due to fatigue and growing up.

Though the documentary left me emotional in many parts, I found myself wanting to hear more about Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan's writing process that produced such iconic films with lasting impact. Despite this lack of deep insight, the documentary succeeds in making a strong case for recognizing the invaluable contributions of writers, wrapped in an emotional lesson of cinematic history and nostalgia.

One common pitfall of documentaries produced by major studios is that they can start to feel like PR exercises but Angry Young Men avoids this trap. It shows how, time and again, when everyone expected them to fail, Salim-Javed proved themselves, most notably with the massive success of Sholay and Don. The documentary also doesn’t shy away from their failures, whether in their professional or personal lives; admirably, both men take full responsibility for their missteps.

The camera captures moments of genuine reality, showing the two legends spending time with their families or preparing for interviews. It allows us to connect with both the individuals rather than the shadow of their magmous personas. The editing is such that the inclusion of anecdotes and insights from other industry figures further the depth, making the documentary even more impactful.

India is a country overflowing with stories, constantly hungry for good storytelling. No wonder we're so obsessed with cinema—it’s not just entertainment served with a delicious story but a reflection of life with a side of drama, action, romance, and tragedy. While I may disagree with Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan about the absence of "superstar writers" and "aspirational writing" today, I wholeheartedly agree with Dibakar Banerjee about the need to "allocate power to writers." After all, cinema isn’t always about creating something entirely new; sometimes, it's just about telling the same story in a powerful, impactful way—something only a skilled writer can do. For this reason, I hope we reach a point where "WRITTEN BY" is as celebrated as "STARRING IN," because without a well-written story, there can be no great cinema! 

Angry Young Men is currently streaming on Prime Video! 

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