Angry Young Men review: An engaging and inspiring exploration of a famed partnership

Angry Young Men follows the struggles, successes, and eventual breakup of the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, who created the archetype of the Angry Young Man. The docuseries is now streaming on Prime Video.

Story

Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar are today regarded as two of the most successful screenwriters of 1970s Hindi cinema, having penned acclaimed films like Sholay and Deewaar

The duo, known as Salim-Javed, faced their fair share of struggles before getting the opportunity to prove their talent. They then worked their way up and became writers who achieved unprecedented fame. 

Beyond their rise, the docuseries also explores their work, including the creation of the iconic Angry Young Man archetype, which captured the zeitgeist of 1970s India. 

The series features interviews with several prominent figures in Indian cinema, as well as the families of the two screenwriters, offering the audience a glimpse into both their professional and personal lives and an understanding of their legacy.

Positives

Angry Young Men depicts the journey of the two screenwriters from the early days of their struggles, taking the audience through every step of their careers and creating an engaging narrative. 

Salim-Javed’s drive and labor during their early years carry the emotional impact that the series aims for, making these legendary screenwriters more human to the audience. 

The series encapsulates the motivations that kept them going even when their dream seemed impossible, which highlights the depth of their character.

Javed Akhtar’s self-criticism and candid, occasionally smug, remarks give the series an air of authenticity. He truly is the most charismatic of all the celebrities interviewed. 

His reflection on the contrast between the life he leads today and the hardships of his youth is particularly impactful, showing how those early struggles left a lasting impression on him. 

The series effectively situates Salim-Javed’s career within the industry, allowing the audience to grasp just how sought-after they were. 

The immense success of two self-made writers in an industry where writers rarely receive credit makes the series particularly inspiring for aspiring writers. The unapologetic haughtiness of Salim-Javed is the cherry on top.

Negatives

The series capitalizes on the popularity of the screenwriters’ family members, sometimes leaning too heavily on them to depict not only Salim-Javed’s personal lives but also to elevate the importance of the series. 

Apart from the family, there are some celebrity interviews also that add little to the narrative and could have been omitted. 

While the struggles of the two screenwriters evoke empathy and admiration, the series tends to glorify them, which the narrative could have done without. 

Lastly, although the series acknowledges the flaws in Salim-Javed’s best works and attempts to remain unbiased by presenting different views on their approach to female characters, it does not delve deep enough. 

The discussion remains surface-level, focusing on whether their female characters were strong and independent, without exploring the normalized violence against them.

Verdict

Angry Young Men is an engaging docuseries that gives a comprehensive account of Salim-Javed’s successful career. Those who wish to learn about the mark they left on Hindi cinema will not be disappointed.


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