Angry Young Men

Growing up on a steady diet of Salim-Javed films, it was heartwarming to hear folks talk about stories behind these movies.

While many of the facts were known from other interviews, the docu series does a good job of re-presenting the facts, most being narrated by big names in Hindi Film Industry who themselves have at some point in their careers been inspired by these writers.

Every cinema lover deserves to know the story of this writer duo who at one point got paid as much as the lead star in a big budget movie. Their names alone drew audiences into the theaters. I doubt if such feats will ever be repeated again!

Can't blame a number of people who wanted much more from the series content wise because there is enough material to make some more episodes. As it stands it will be liked by Hindi movie buffs particularly those who have followed the work of this writer duo for many years. The trivia of their professional and personal lives makes for an interesting watch. Stories relating to the making of Zanjeer and Sholay are interesting anytime, anywhere and these have been covered well. How these writers demanded and got a prominent place in billing and greater remuneration than the actor is the stuff of legends. The drastic dip in their career at one time after a number of consecutive blockbusters and their separation makes for an emotional watch.

Director Namrata Rao has presented a collection of interviews of both writers which sends us on a memory trip and is very nostalgic. I feel those in the 60 plus age group are more likely to relate and empathize with the views of the two writers. The series includes some iconic dialogue of their movies which are remembered and quoted even today after many years. The scenes of their bonding together in the last episode is heartwarming.

There are series, there are movies, and then there are emotions-this documentary rightly falls into the third category. It tells the story of Salim-Javed, a duo that shook the industry for good.

Over the course of three episodes, the documentary chronicles their humble beginnings, their rise to stardom, and their eventual fallout. You'll discover many aspects of their lives that were previously unknown. Their story takes you on a nostalgic journey through the 70s and 80s. Every movie they wrote together is now a cult classic, and there's no doubt that they were, and still are, a force to be reckoned with.

The documentary features interviews with many celebrities and family members who shed light on their lives, drawing you into the narrative and adding authenticity to the series. The conviction they had to tell a story, and the courage to follow their hearts, has brought them to where they are today. The inclusion of their marital lives, which have striking similarities, adds a personal touch to the series.

When Javed Akhtar speaks, you listen and admire his choice of words-he has proven his eloquence time and again through his work. Salim, though rougher around the edges when he speaks, adds a relatable element to the series.

As critics, directors, and stars discuss their body of work, you come to the realization of the legends they truly are. It's true-it's hard to fill their shoes. The Shahenshah of Bollywood continues to entertain us today, in large part thanks to this writing duo. Jaya Bachchan, for a change, appears so grounded and more beautiful than ever in this series. With the inclusion of classic film footage, get ready for goosebumps or a thrill that few series achieve.

The only issue with the series is that you still won't get the exact reason for their fallout. Otherwise, if you love movies-especially Hindi movies-you're in for a treat. It's a must-watch.

#pranureviews #AngryYoungMen #AngryYoungMenReview.

Seeing Salim Saab and Javed Saab hug each other in the final episode was the most emotional and long-awaited moment of this documentary for me. It felt like watching two old friends reconnect after years. Honestly, it made me feel like I was hugging an old friend too. Thank you so much, Prime Video, for bringing this documentary to life.

As a die-hard fan of Amitabh Bachchan and his "Angry Young Man" movies, this documentary gave me a deep appreciation for Salim-Javed, the duo who created that iconic identity for him.

There are so many powerful moments, life lessons, and philosophies in this documentary. Like the scene where a woman asks Salim Saab to wipe his sweat, and he replies, "Yaha taqdir hoti hai." That one line shows his depth as a thinker and why he became such a legendary writer. Then there's Javed Saab talking about his struggles and sharing how he feels about the simple breakfast he eats now: "Lagta hai ye khana mera nahi hai, kisi aur ka hai." The tears in his eyes as he recalls his mother's passing and not being able to see her even now-those moments were heart-wrenching. And when he says, "Deewar pe sar maar maar ke rasta bana liya," it hits you deeply.

What struck me most was how they handled their separation. Running a successful partnership is tough, but silently parting ways without blaming each other is even harder. That's such a valuable life lesson.

Now, about the documentary itself.

I absolutely loved the intro video. The clay animation, background music, and how they connected scenes from famous movies-it was all just perfect. I've rewatched that intro so many times.

The old photos, video clips, and how they told Salim Saab and Javed Saab's story were so engaging. Bringing in actors, screenwriters, and directors from both the old and new eras to share their memories and emotions added so much depth and weight to the documentary.

If you enjoyed this documentary, don't miss the casual conversation video they've put on YouTube. It's another gem, and I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.

Salim-Javed is a foundational pillar which defined the stylish 70s as we know it. If are a fan of the duo, you would have already known most of the trivia and background stories covered in the 3-espisode mini series. What stood out for me are the following bits: 1) Yeaterday year footage its makers managed to bring back on screen and description of Salim-Javed's individual struggles before their legendary association happened.

2) The opening credit score capturing the funky 70s music and animation 3) screen time allocated to Sholay & Deewaar, given a total of 3 episodes

What I missed out on: 1) More details on some of their less discussed work. This should have been an 8-episode series with dedicated time given to Kaala Patthar, Don, Shaan, Shakti, and Mr. India.

2) More of Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan and Dharmendra footage because that's gold snippets.

3) An episode just on their wild life and parties after they made it big. That aspect was just given a lip service by calling them 'brats' 3) How the other big directors of the time (Prakash Mehra and M Desai) felt about their scripts and why they didn't work more together?

4) How they contributed to making the background music impacting the scenes written by them on camera.

There is much more I wanted to see but hopefully they will release it in parts over next season.