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Angry Young Men (mini series)

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Angry Young Men
Promotional poster
GenreDocumentary
Based onThe lives and careers of Salim–Javed
Directed byNamrata Rao
Creative directorZoya Akhtar (concept)
Starring
Country of originIndia
Original languageHindi
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producers
Producers
EditorGeeta Singh
Original release
NetworkAmazon Prime Video
Release20 August 2024 (2024-08-20)
Related

Angry Young Men is a 2024 Indian documentary miniseries about the screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, popularly known as Salim–Javed.[1] Directed by Namrata Rao in her feature debut, the three-part series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 20 August 2024.[2][3][4] It focuses on the professional journey of Salim–Javed and their influence on Hindi cinema, especially through the creation of the "angry young man" character type made popular by actor Amitabh Bachchan.[5][6] The series uses a mix of archival footage and new interviews with actors, filmmakers, and family members to narrate their story.[7] Angry Young Men received a mixed response from critics. NDTV called it "an important, absorbing and well-composed chronicle" of a pivotal film era.[8] Others, however, found its tone overly nostalgic and lacking critical depth.[9][10]

Overview

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The series is divided into three episodes: Origins and Rise, Golden Period, and Dissolution.[11] The first episode looks at Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar’s early life, their move to Mumbai, and the struggles they faced before becoming a writing team in 1969. Salim Khan came from Indore with an interest in acting, while Javed Akhtar came from Bhopal with the aim of becoming a director. Their difficult experiences during this period are shown as influencing the themes and characters they later wrote.[7][12]

The second episode covers their most successful period during the 1970s. It highlights films such as Zanjeer (1973), Deewaar (1975), and Sholay (1975), which helped define the angry young man image in Hindi cinema.[5] These stories reflected the mood of the time, especially issues like corruption, inequality, and public frustration. The series also includes discussions on how they worked together, though some critics felt it did not explore their writing process in enough detail.[7]

The final episode focuses on the decline of their partnership. It shows how, after a series of hit films, some later projects did not do well, such as Immaan Dharam, and how the duo parted ways in 1982. Family members and colleagues speak openly about the reasons behind their split and their personalities. The series ends with reflections from both Salim and Javed, who say they have no regrets about their journey.[7]

The series also looks at how Salim–Javed changed the status of screenwriters in the Hindi film industry. They were among the first to demand credit and higher pay, which led to better recognition for writers.[7]

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Screenwriters

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Actors

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Filmmakers

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Writers and critics

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Family members

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Production

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Amitabh Bachchan's rise as the 'Angry Young Man'

The series was directed by Namrata Rao, a National Award-winning film editor. Although the idea for the documentary came from Zoya Akhtar, she chose not to direct it herself, saying it would be too personal. Rao aimed to maintain objectivity while telling the story of Salim–Javed. Filming took place over three years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team collected more than 800 hours of footage, which was later edited into three episodes with help from editor Geeta Singh. The series was produced by Salman Khan Films, Excel Media & Entertainment (owned by Farhan Akhtar), and Tiger Baby (founded by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti).[13] Executive producers include Salma Khan, Salman Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and Ritesh Sidhwani.[7][5]

One of the stylistic choices was not showing Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar together on screen until the final part, highlighting their separate paths after their partnership ended. The series also includes views from women in their families and industry colleagues, touching upon how their films portrayed female characters.[7][14]

Reception

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Angry Young Men received a mixed response from critics. NDTV rated it 4/5, calling it an "important, absorbing and well-composed chronicle" of Bollywood in the 1970s.[8] India Today (4/5) described it as a "well-made, thoroughly researched" series that balances admiration with candid remarks, citing contributions such as Honey Irani calling the pair "brats".[15] The Times of India (4/5) called the series "insightful, unfiltered and riveting," praising its emotional moments and the willingness of family members to reflect on Salim–Javed’s past arrogance.[16] Moneycontrol praised the series for its nostalgic tone and described it as "necessary" for documenting this phase of film history.[17] The Quint wrote that it "excels as an unabashed celebration" of the duo's legacy, particularly for its extensive interviews and footage.[18]

However, several critics expressed concerns about the documentary's approach. A common criticism was that the series was overly reverential and avoided probing questions. The Wire described it as "starstruck" and "nostalgia-fuelled," stating that it "never feels focused" due to the large number of interviewees.[19] Livemint called it a "soft-hearted tribute" that lacked "rigour and heft," and observed that it overwhelmed viewers with celebrity commentary while offering "surprisingly little insight into their working methods".[20] Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com noted that many of director Rao’s questions were "feebly posed" and that the series offered few new perspectives beyond familiar anecdotes.[21] Similarly, Scroll.in criticised the lack of detailed analysis of the scripts and highlighted the reliance on "vacuous celebrity vox pops".[22] The Indian Express (3/5) found the nostalgic framing appealing but pointed out that the film leaves several questions unanswered, such as the mention of plagiarism being "dismissed airily" and the lack of clarity around the reasons for the duo’s split.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Angry Young Men Review: More warmth than anger in Salim-Javed documentary". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  2. ^ Kumar, Anuj (2024-08-22). "'Angry Young Men' docu-series review: Decoding Vijay with Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  3. ^ "5 reasons why you must watch Salim-Javed's docu-series 'Angry Young Men'". @mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  4. ^ Raavi, Sridhar (2024-08-13). "Angry Young Men: Star Studded Docu Leaves Salman Nervous". M9.news. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  5. ^ a b c "Angry Young Men: The Audacity of Salim and Javed". www.thevoiceoffashion.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  6. ^ "Angry Young Men on Prime Video offers an incisive exploration of Salim-Javed's legacy".
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Making of Salim-Javed docu Angry Young Men: 800 hours of footage, inclusion of KGF star Yash and why Zoya Akhtar didn't want screenwriters' kids to direct it". The Indian Express. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  8. ^ a b "Angry Young Men Review: Absolutely Deserving Of A Documentary Mini-Series Treatment". NDTV. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  9. ^ "Angry Young Men review: A fascinating peek into the Salim-Javed story - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  10. ^ Gahlot, Deepa (2024-08-25). "Angry Young Men - Web Series Review". Deepa Gahlot. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  11. ^ Bhardwaj, Kartik (2024-08-31). "Deconstructing the Angry Young Man". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  12. ^ Gaur, Trisha (2024-08-10). "Angry Young Men On OTT: When & Where To Watch Salim Khan & Javed Akhtar's Story - 3 Biggest Scoop You Might Find In The Web Series!". Koimoi. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  13. ^ "Angry Young Man Trailer Launch".
  14. ^ "Excited for Salim-Javed's Angry Young Men? Until then watch these 7 iconic & must-watch movies by the writer duo that changed Indian cinema forever; on Amazon Prime Video & other OTT platforms". GQ India. 2024-08-14. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  15. ^ "'Angry Young Men' review: A fitting tribute to Salim-Javed's stardom and angst". India Today. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  16. ^ Angry Young Men Season 1 Review: Salim-Javed deliver yet another blockbuster. Retrieved 2025-06-17 – via timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
  17. ^ "Salim-Javed's Angry Young Men Review: Diplomatic Salman Khan & frank Honey Irani in a wholesome not holistic documentary".
  18. ^ Hajee, Kaashif (2024-08-21). "Angry Young Men Review: Docuseries Is An Unabashed Celebration of Salim & Javed". TheQuint. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  19. ^ "Angry Young Men: A Starstruck Docu-Series That Doesn't Ask Tough Questions of Its Subjects". The Wire. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  20. ^ Bhatia, Uday (27 August 2024). "'Angry Young Men' review: A soft-hearted tribute and a missed opportunity". Mint.
  21. ^ VERMA, SUKANYA. "Angry Young Men Review: Seeking Salim-Javed". Rediff. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  22. ^ Ramnath, Nandini (2024-08-20). "'Angry Young Men' review: The iconic Salim-Javed dish out warm anecdotes and some insights". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  23. ^ "Angry Young Men review: Salim-Javed documentary coasts on full-blown nostalgia and a dizzying array of stars". The Indian Express. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
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