Sep 24 2024
Angry Young Men Review: A nostalgic look at Bollywood’s brooding legends Salim Khan & Javed Akhtar
Fri 23 Aug 2024
Title: Angry Young Men
Director: Namrata Rao
Cast: Salim Khan, Javed Akthar
Where: Streaming on Prime Video
If you ever wondered how two unassuming men could single-handedly catapult a generation of Indian men into a permanent state of simmering rage, Angry Young Men holds the answer with the flamboyant flair of a Bollywood masala film. This docuseries unravels the tale of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, the screenwriting duo who turned Amitabh Bachchan into a one-man army of scowls and scathing retorts, capturing the zeitgeist of 1970s India with an angry fist raised in defiance.
In three meticulously crafted episodes, the series saunters through the humble beginnings, meteoric rise, and eventually, the spectacular implosion of this dynamic duo. The magic begins with the birth of the ‘Angry Young Man’—a character who, let’s face it, made fuming with righteous indignation look downright sexy. Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay—these weren’t just films; they were cinematic sledgehammers, breaking down the saccharine, love-drenched tropes of Bollywood’s yesteryears and replacing them with gritty realism, all while delivering dialogues that still echo through cinema halls today.
Salim-Javed’s pen was mightier than any sword, and their typewriter clacks might as well have been war drums. The duo’s ability to craft larger-than-life stories packed with potent social commentary was as sharp as the cutting words they famously penned. The docuseries doesn’t shy away from showcasing their swagger, star power, and, eventually, their descent into the kind of estrangement that makes one wonder- if Bollywood itself couldn’t develop a more dramatic storyline.
But beyond the myth and legend, the docuseries offers an endearing peek behind the curtain, where Salim and Javed reminisce with a twinkle in their eyes that belies the fury they once infused into their characters. The series deftly interweaves these personal insights with the reminisces of a veritable who’s who of Indian cinema. Amitabh Bachchan, the original Angry Young Man, lends gravitas to tales of days gone by. But it’s Honey Irani, Javed Akhtar’s ex-wife, who, with her candid reflections, brings a refreshing, unsentimental sharpness to the narrative, much like a splash of lime in a strong drink.
Technically, the docuseries is a masterclass in archival curation. The meticulously selected footage, featuring rare interviews with luminaries like Yash Chopra and Nirupa Roy, alongside evocative clips from iconic films, weaves a narrative that is nothing short of cinematic poetry. The editing is razor-sharp, seamlessly blending past and present, while the sound design ensures that every legendary dialogue reverberates with the same power and intensity it held decades ago.
For those who consider the seventies the golden age of Hindi cinema, this docuseries is a nostalgic trip down memory lane. For cinephiles, it’s a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes trivia. For history buffs, it’s an insightful look into how art and society mirror each other in times of turmoil. But most importantly, for fans of Salim-Javed, it’s a reminder of a time when the pen was indeed mightier than the sword—and far more lethal.
(This article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement between The Brew News and The Free Press Journal)
