Exploring the ‘Angry Young Men’ Series: A Delightful Insight into the Lives of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar

While it may not be experimental, Namrata Rao’s direction offers an engaging experience, brimming with interesting trivia and a sense of nostalgia.

In the second episode of the documentary series *Angry Young Men*, Javed Akhtar retrieves a book from his home library—a hardback with its title in Urdu. As he flips to the last page, he turns to his interviewers and says, ‘Let me show you something impressive.’ It’s an autograph from the legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. ‘Jaadu miyan ke liye, mohabbat se, Faiz. March ’84,’ he reads with a playful smile, translating, ‘For Jaadu, with love, from Faiz. March ’84.’ He then teasingly asks, ‘Did you guys think any less of me?’

It’s hard to imagine anyone thinking less of Javed Akhtar or Salim Khan; they themselves would never entertain such a notion. This dynamic writing duo burst onto the Hindi cinema scene in the 70s like a force of nature. Following lighter films like *Haathi Mere Saathi* (1971) and *Seeta Aur Geeta* (1972), they made waves with *Zanjeer* (1973), heralding the era of the Angry Young Man—a trend that continues to influence films today. The documentary on these veteran scriptwriters is directed by the experienced film editor Namrata Rao, marking her directorial debut, with the next generation—Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, and Salman Khan—collaborating as producers. The result is a compelling narrative featuring interviews that explore the lives, personalities, and impact of these two influential figures on mainstream Bollywood.

The documentary takes a reflective approach, starting with the origins of the writers. We learn about Salim Khan’s early days as an actor. ‘I envisioned myself as James Dean,’ he recalls. ‘Then *Devdas* was released…

The lineup for the documentary is truly remarkable. Alongside the writers’ family, it features renowned filmmakers such as Karan Johar, Rajkummar Hirani, and Shyam Benegal, who provide valuable insights into the Salim-Javed phenomenon. Benegal shares, ‘I admired their talent for captivating audiences, and to an extent, I envied their success.’ Additionally, film critic Anupama Chopra and trade analyst Komal Nahta are brought in to discuss the impressive statistics behind Salim-Javed, noting their exceptional track record of 22 hits out of 24 films together.

What adds a unique perspective are the contributions from the women in their lives. Honey Irani, Akhtar’s ex-wife, shares charming anecdotes about their marriage, which adds a personal touch and humanizes the iconic figure. She recalls a memorable moment when he proposed during a rummy game on set. ‘His luck was terrible that day, and he asked me to draw a card. When I did, he folded and then asked for my hand in marriage,’ she reminisces with a laugh. ‘I should have realized that gambling doesn’t pay off,’ she quips.

*Angry Young Men* thrives on the captivating stories of its subjects. While it follows a straightforward documentary format with various commentators discussing Salim and Javed’s lives and films, it remains an engaging watch filled with trivia and nostalgia. The film addresses the reasons behind their split candidly, although the exploration may leave some viewers wanting more. Ultimately, it centers on the two legendary writers, Salim and Javed, whose conversations could easily captivate audiences for hours.

Directed by: Namrata Rao

Featuring: Salim Khan, Javed Akhtar, Salman Khan, Zoya Akhtar.