Angry Young Man docu-series trailer on writer-duo Salim-Javed sets internet ablaze
Angry Young Man docu-series trailer on writer-duo
Salim-Javed sets internet ablaze
Interestingly, the Angry Young Man docu-series trailer on writer-duo Salim-Javed’s journey has set internet ablaze.
This series enlightens on the extraordinary rise of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, the writing team behind 22 blockbuster hits out of the 24 films they collaborated on. It’s a rare moment in Hindi cinema when writers, often ebbed by stars, are celebrated in such a grand scale.
It’s a well-known fact, that
transnationally writer-duo
Salim-Javed are acknowledged as the strength-of-character of any successful film, but in Indian cinema, they’ve often been underrated.
Salim-Javed, however, defied this norm and went ahead to revolutionise the industry by demanding fees on par with the top actors, proving that a powerful script could draw in audiences just as much as a star could. They emerged as the only writing duo to achieve star status, with their names often billed alongside leading actors.
In the late 1970s, Salim-Javed were synonymous with success, delivering unforgettable films like Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Zanjeer, Deewar, and Sholay. The Angry Young Men trailer reveals that at the height of their fame, they demanded and received a fee of Rs 21 lakh per film—an amount higher than what even Amitabh Bachchan, India’s highest-paid actor at the time, earned.
A graphic in the trailer highlights this, showing Amitabh’s fee at Rs 20 lakh, with other stars like Rajesh Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha earning significantly less.
Karan Johar, in the documentary, quips, “Can you imagine if a writer today asked for a crore more than Salman Khan? That was the power of Salim-Javed.”
The docu-series features interviews with a slew of Bollywood icons, including Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar, and many others, who reflect on the immense influence Salim-Javed had on the industry. The series also explores the duo’s eventual split, a breakup that sent shockwaves through Bollywood.
At the trailer launch, Salim Khan recollected on his journey, saying that he began his career in front of the camera but found his true calling in storytelling. Javed and he shared a passion for writing, and together, challenged industry norms and created something special. He feels thrilled that their journey is being documented for future generations, and hopes it inspires others to pursue their passions fearlessly.
Meanwhile, Angry Young Men ensures to be an absorbing watch, offering an in-depth look at the writers who redefined the role of screenwriters in Indian cinema.
News Edit K.V.Raman
