Amitabh Bachchan is the original ‘Angry Young Man’ of Indian cinema. In a time when romance sold, he carved a niche for himself with his stellar brooding performances in the 70s.
1. Zanjeer – 1973
This was the movie that set him on the course to being the ‘ angry young man’. He set a new benchmark for onscreen cops with his lanky frame and ‘kadak’ dialogue delivery. He played an honest cop with a goon for a best friend, a street hawker as love interest and a personal vendetta against the villain.
2. Deewar – 1975
Deewar further cemented his image as he essayed the role of a dock worker turned criminal. His performance of a son pained by his mother’s rejection of his ill-gotten wealth was well done. The famous confrontation with his younger brother (played by Shashi Kapoor), a cop, is still quoted – ‘mere paas maa hai.’
3. Don – 1978
A cult movie that was remade years later with Badshah Khan. The original movie has its following with Amithabh playing two very different characters in the two halves of the movie; a ruthless don in the first half and an endearing average Joe in the second.
4. Trishul – 1978
His role in this movie is best remembered for his highly charged stand – off scenes with his ‘najayaz baap’. The plot revolves around the single point vendetta launched against the man who abandoned his mother.
5. Muquaddar ka Sikander – 1978
The story of unrequited love was a blockbuster of its time. Amitabh plays the wrongly accused, anguished, lovelorn orphan who finds out that his best friend and his love interest are in love. His brooding emotional performance captured the collective hearts of the young women across the country.
