Sholay’s Imperfections Exposed: Namrata Rao’s Take on Critiquing an Iconic Film

National Award-winning editor Namrata Rao has stepped into the role of director with her new docuseries, Angry Young Men, which explores the legacy of the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed. In her recent discussions, Namrata addressed the common criticisms of their iconic film Sholay, sharing her thoughts on the duo’s work.

Namrata explained that it was crucial for her to address the critiques surrounding Sholay, such as accusations of plagiarism, the repetition in their scripts, and the creative fatigue that came with their success. She noted, “It was very important for me to touch upon the criticisms…because that really changed the game for them.” However, she also mentioned that, due to time constraints and the need to keep the narrative moving, she couldn’t dive into every detail as much as she would have liked.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Namrata talked about how Sholay has often been criticized for its similarities to the Spaghetti Western genre of Italian cinema. She emphasized the importance of confronting these critiques, as they were significant in shaping Salim-Javed’s careers. Namrata believes that showing both the flaws and achievements of artists adds depth and humanity to their stories, making them more compelling.

She also shared that getting to know Salim and Javed on a personal level gave her a better understanding of how aware they were of their influences. She appreciated their honesty in acknowledging that they drew inspiration from other films and intentionally incorporated those elements into their scripts. Reflecting on their creative process, she said, “Now that I know them as people, I believe what they say: ‘We did it. We knew we were doing it. We used to watch a lot of films. We used to read a lot. We took whatever stayed with us and put it into our scripts.’”

Sholay, written by Salim-Javed, is a milestone in Indian cinema, known for its unforgettable storyline, iconic characters, and legendary dialogues. The film, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, and Amjad Khan, remains a timeless classic.

Namrata’s docuseries Angry Young Men is a 3-part exploration of the transformative era of Hindi cinema in the 1970s and ’80s. The series focuses on Salim-Javed, the duo who shaped the Angry Young Man persona famously portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan, and offers an in-depth look at their creative evolution and lasting impact on the film industry.