Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, the legendary screenwriting duo known for shaping Bollywood’s golden era, are back in the spotlight with the docu-series “Angry Young Men.” This Prime Video offering, directed by the acclaimed industry editor-turned-director Namrata Rao, delves deep into their extraordinary partnership that birthed 22 blockbuster films and rewrote the rules of Hindi cinema. Namrata Rao herself has a soft spot for “Deewar” (1975) as her favorite Salim-Javed film, though she is equally enamored with “Shakti” (1982).
The documentary was three years in the making, starting with a conversation between Rao and Zoya Akhtar, with whom Rao had previously collaborated on “Lust Stories” (2018) and the musical segments of “Gully Boy” (2019). Zoya brought up the idea of “Angry Young Men” back in December 2020 and offered Rao the directorial role, to which she enthusiastically agreed.
Salim and Javed’s collaboration spanned over 15 prolific years, giving fans iconic films like “Sholay” (1975), “Don” (1978), and “Trishul” (1978). When tasked with documenting a career as storied as theirs, Rao began with an extensive chart of their works, openly accessible anecdotes, and their public life stories. However, the real essence of the series began to evolve during the interviews with Salim and Javed. “It was fascinating to tap into their personalities,” Rao notes. “They are cool guys, they are badass. They dreamt big and made those dreams come true.”
Javed Akhtar’s confidence shines through in the documentary, as he articulates, “I didn’t think this wouldn’t happen; I always thought this could go in my biography.” The transition of Salim and Javed from their youthful days to their elderly selves is captured beautifully through old and recent photographs, adding a layer of emotional depth to the narrative.
According to those who have seen the documentary, its strength lies in its realistic portrayal of the duo and not merely in glorifying them. “They symbolize wisdom about success and failure, and what it means as you age,” says Rao. “They know storytelling better than any of us, and they have the ability to offer what I would want.” One illustrative moment in the documentary occurs when Javed Akhtar gets choked up reminiscing about his breakfast, only to lighten the atmosphere moments later with an offhand remark. Such candid moments capture the essence of these two legends.
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An unexpected revelation comes from Salim Khan, as he talks about his mother, revealing a softer side to his otherwise rough and tough persona. He speaks openly about their triumphs and mistakes alike, even using expletives to assert their acceptance of their past. One memorable discussion revolves around “Sholay” and the treatment of a widow character, where Salim and Javed argue that pushing the envelope too far too quickly would have hurt the story. “You first bring in the idea and then you normalize it,” they insist, suggesting that the tragedy at the heart of “Sholay” was crucial to the film’s impact.
The documentary comprises more than 80 interviews, including heavyweight names like Amitabh Bachchan, Karan Johar, Salman Khan, and Farhan and Zoya Akhtar, resulting in a staggering 800 hours of footage. Despite the wealth of material, Rao remained true to the essence of storytelling rather than just listing her favorite films. One critique, however, suggests that the series might not offer new insights to those already familiar with Salim-Javed’s body of work. Nevertheless, Rao believes that capturing their candidness revealed a resounding mantra: “bolo yaar, aage dekha jaayega” (speak up, we’ll see what happens next).
Addressing why Salim and Javed aren’t shown together in the series, Rao explains, “We started in the pandemic when movement was limited, and it wasn’t easy to shoot two people of their age together. Over time, it became the format I enjoyed, capturing them in their own personal spaces.” The last segment shot for the documentary includes a heartwarming episode at Shivaji Park, where Salim and Javed inaugurate Diwali lights—a fitting celebration of their legacy.
As for the highly speculated “last script” from Salim and Javed, Rao remains uncertain. “Everyone at the premiere was curious about it,” she says. “As of now, they aren’t working on it. But being the angry young men that they are, who knows? They might surprise us yet again.”
In the end, “Angry Young Men” reaffirms Salim and Javed as not just talented writers, but as resilient and inspiring individuals. The series captures their cool, their swagger, and their undying belief in the power of storytelling.
