Angry Young Men is a 2024 Indian documentary miniseries about the screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, popularly known as Salim–Javed. Directed by Namrata Rao in her feature debut, the three-part series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 20 August 2024. 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 in the 1970s. The series uses a mix of archival footage and new interviews with actors, filmmakers, and family members.
Series summary The series is divided into three episodes. The first episode, "Origins and Rise," begins with the early lives of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar when they moved to Mumbai, and struggled to establish themselves in the film industry. Salim Khan came from Indore with an interest in acting, while Javed Akhtar came from Bhopal with the aim of becoming a director, beginning as an assistant. The episode explores Salim’s roles as an actor in films such as Baraat (1960), Ramu Dada (1961), Professor (1962), and Bachpan (1963). He first met Javed on the set of Sarhadi Lutera (1966), with Salim as one of the stars and Javed as an assistant. After becoming friends, they worked as a ghostwriting team, developing the screenplay for Adhikar (1971). This led to positions with director Ramesh Sippy's company in the writing department. The episode then explores the birth of Salim-Javed as a writing team for films such as Andaz, Haathi Mere Saathi, Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), and Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973). The episode ends with the development of the "angry young man" character (drawn from the difficulties that they experienced in their earlier years). It is embodied as "Vijay" by the actor Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer (1973).
The second episode, Golden Period highlights their rise, as well as that of "the angry young man" films (with Bachchan returning, often as “Vijay”). It highlights the two films that dominated 1975; Deewaar and Sholay, both of which are now considered two of the greatest films in Hindi cinema. These films reflected the angst and mood of India in the 1970s, with regard to corruption, inequality, and public frustration. Deewar and Sholay in particular were released in the same year as The Emergency in 1975. The episode also examines the popularity of the films Trishul (1978) and Shakti (1982).
The third and final episode, Dissolution focuses on the films of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the decline of their partnership. It begins with their first failure, Immaan Dharam (1977), and then explores the films that followed. Their next film Don (1978) was a huge success and so was Trishul (1978) and Kaala Patthar (1979). It concludes with an examination of Dostana (1980) and Shaan (1980). The episode ends with the dissolution of the partnership, with family members and colleagues speaking openly about the reasons behind their split.
The series also looks at how Salim–Javed changed the status of screenwriters in the Hindi film industry, as they were among the first to demand credit and higher pay, which led to better recognition for writers.
List of Salim–Javed films featured in the series Episode 1: Origins and Rise
Year Film Cast Director/Notes 1971 Andaz Shammi Kapoor Dir. Ramesh Sippy; Debut of Salim-JavedHema MaliniRajesh Khanna 1971 Haathi Mere Saathi Rajesh Khanna Dir. M. A. ThirumugamTanuja1972Seeta Aur GeetaDharmendra Dir. Ramesh SippySanjeev Kumar Hema MaliniHoney Irani Manorama 1973 Yaadon Ki Baaraat Dharmendra Dir. Nasir HussainZeenat AmanNeetu Singh 1973 Zanjeer Amitabh Bachchan Dir. Prakash Mehra; Introduces the "angry young man," Vijay (embodied by Amitabh Bachchan); first collaboration between Salim-Javed and Bachchan.The Cult of the Angry Young ManJaya BhaduriPran
Episode 2: Golden Period Year Film Cast Director/Notes 1975 Deewaar Amitabh Bachchan Dir. Yash Chopra; Considered a "landmark" in Hindi Cinema, developing the "angry young man" character "Vijay" (Amitabh Bachchan)'Deewaar' Turns 50: Amitabh Bachchan, Salim-Javed, and the Birth of the New Bollywood Hero Shashi KapoorNeetu SinghParveen BabiNirupa Roy1975 Sholay Dharmendra Dir. Ramesh Sippy; Considered one of the greatest films of Hindi cinema, developing the "angry young man" character "Jai" (Amitabh Bachchan)Amitabh BachchanHema MaliniJaya BhaduriSanjeev KumarHelenAmjad Khan 1978 Trishul Shashi Kapoor Dir. Yash Chopra; Continues with "the angry young man" character "Vijay" (Amitabh Bachchan)Why audiences loved the angry young manAmitabh BachchanHema Malini Raakhee1982 Shakti Amitabh Bachchan Dir. Ramesh Sippy; Continues with "the angry young man" character "Vijay" (Amitabh Bachchan)Dilip Kumar
Episode 3: Dissolution Year Film Cast Director/Notes1977 Immaan Dharam Shashi Kapoor Dir. Desh MuckherjeeAmitabh BachchanRekhaAparna SenHelenPrem Chopra 1978 Don Amitabh Bachchan Dir. Chandra Barot; Continues with "the angry young man" character "Don" and "Vijay" (Amitabh Bachchan)Amitabh Bachchan's 8 iconic roles that made him the undisputed Angry Young Man of BollywoodZeenat AmanHelenPranIftekharOm Shivpuri 1979 Kaala Patthar Amitabh Bachchan Dir. Yash Chopra; Continues with the "angry young man" character Vijay (embodied by Amitabh Bachchan)Shashi KapoorParveen BabiNeetu Singh 1980 Dostana Amitabh Bachchan Dir. Raj Khosla; Continues with the "angry young man" character Vijay (embodied by Amitabh Bachchan)Angry Young Men review: A fascinating peek into the Salim-Javed storyZeenat AmanHelenPran 1980 Shaan Amitabh Bachchan Dir. Ramesh Sippy; Continues with the "angry young man" character Vijay (embodied by Amitabh Bachchan)Shashi KapoorSunil DuttHelen
Featured interviews Main Salim Khan Javed Akhtar Amitabh Bachchan
Actors Farhan Akhtar Shabana Azmi Abhishek Bachchan Jaya Bachchan Dharmendra Deol Helen Kareena Kapoor Arbaaz Khan Aamir Khan Salman Khan Shah Rukh Khan Hema Malini Hrithik Roshan Saif Ali Khan Ranveer Singh Shatrughan Sinha Yash
Filmmakers Zoya Akhtar Shyam Benegal Mahesh Bhatt Yash Chopra Rajkumar Hirani Karan Johar Reema Kagti Farah Khan Ramesh Sippy
Writers, musicians, and critics Shweta Bachchan Nanda Anupama Chopra Honey Irani Abhijat Joshi A.R. Rahman Anjum Rajabali Jaideep Sahni
Production 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 (SKF), Excel Media & Entertainment (owned by Farhan Akhtar), and Tiger Baby (founded by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti). Aside from Salma Khan and Salman Khan, brothers Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan also served as executive producers for SKF, while Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and Ritesh Sidhwani served as executive producers for Excel Media & Entertainment and Tiger Baby.
Rao deliberately chose to interview Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar separately in order to allow each writer to focus on his personal story. The series also includes views from women in their families and industry colleagues, touching upon how their films portrayed female characters.
Reception Filmfare gave the series 5 out of 5 stars and described it as a "must-watch." NDTV says that it “does a perfect job of spotlighting the cornerstones of the Salim Khan-Javed Akhtar partnership that, in the 1970s, yielded a few of the greatest Hindi megahits” while also not being a hagiography. India Today (4/5) says that the documentary is as "engaging as any full-blown masala entertainer.” The Times of India (4/5) states that the film "is as much a reality check on the downside of success as much as it’s a fitting tribute to the glorious journey of screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar."
The Wire argues that it is “pleasurable, comforting and fun. But it’s also limited in its perspective, and unwilling to critically examine its subjects beyond a point.” Livemint says that "despite all the interviews they gave and books written on their films, there was still a lot we didn’t know about Salim-Javed. After 135 minutes, we still don’t." Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com suggests that the documentary "lacks that IT factor, a sense of exclusivity befitting their legend."
See also Angry young man (India) The Romantics (documentary) (2023) The Roshans (2025)
References
External links
Angry Young Men on Amazon Prime Icons In Conversation ft. Salim-Javed, Salman, Farhan, Zoya, Namrata and Farah, Angry Young Men - Amazon Prime India "‘Angry Young Men’: Inside Prime Video’s Documentary Series on Bollywood Screenwriting Legends Salim-Javed (EXCLUSIVE)" - Variety (magazine), August 2024. Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan at trailer launch, 13 August 2024.