Movies and cricket are two of the most favourite means of entertainment in this country. Movies score over cricket as it wins the choice of the fair sex too. Bollywood has a very strong influence on the life of an average Indian. Many people emulate what is shown in Bollywood movies and either make or break their lives based on this. Bollywood if often considered as the big, bad, ugly world which can corrupt minds. But there have been many movies which offer valuable management tips and money lessons to the audiences. Here is a list of some Bollywood movies which give us money lessons:
3 Idiots: 3 Idiots, one of the biggest blockbusters of all times and starring Aamir Khan has one underlying message – keep things in life simple and uncomplicated. This can lead you to achieve great results, if you are hard working and committed. The same applies to our investments and financial life. Nowadays, there are several complicated investment products, details of which the sales person himself does not understand in most times. For example, the Unit Linked Insurance Plan is a combination of insurance and mutual funds, and turns out to be very expensive for the investor. The agent who sells you the ULIP is himself unaware of these details or is so overwhelmed by the complexity of the product that he chooses to keep quiet when he sells it. Keep your investments simple – take a pure term insurance for insurance cover and an equity mutual fund for investment. This is what 3 Idiots teaches us.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: Setting goals is very important to achieve financial success. This is something which the movie Bhaag Milkh Bhaag starring Farhan Akthar teaches us. In the movie, the protagonist who is an athlete runs to achieve different goals in his life at various stages. During his young age, he runs to reach home early. Then he runs for survival during the India-Pakistan partition. Then he runs to earn milk and eggs. Finally, he runs for self respect and for medals, making his country proud. The message conveyed is that one should plan his goals appropriately and work towards achieving them.
Ta Ra Rum Pum: This movie starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee, although did not become a big hit is one of the greatest examples of how to lead a financially fit life. The movie begins by showing how the hero is used to spending needlessly on things using his credit card and paying instalments. When he loses his job suddenly and is unable to work again due to various situations, he is perplexed on how to provide for his family. This is when he realises the value of saving, investing and spending carefully. The movie also shows that one must be financially prepared for uncertainties in life.
Band Baaja Baraat: This movie basically deals with entrepreneurship and gives valuable lessons on various aspects of being an entrepreneur. Nevertheless, there are some financial lessons one can learn from the movie. For example, the movie teaches you how to manage your expenses within a limited budget. The protagonists go from one win to another to become the most sought after wedding planners. Similarly, with proper discipline and planning, you can achieve one goal after another in life. Starting small and dreaming big is another lesson one can derive from this movie.
Chak De India: Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chak De India is a sports based movie. The movie deals with various management principles such as team building, team work, leadership and goals. However, the most important financial lesson that can be gained from this movie is that one should do proper homework before strategising. In the movie, the hockey coach does accurate planning and prepares well before every game of his team. Similarly, before you invest in any avenue, you must do thorough research and homework on the investment. If you plan to invest in a mutual fund or a debt product, it is important to understand the features, benefits and risks of the product before investing. Only then is it possible to maximize returns and minimize risks, keeping in mind your individual goals and needs.
One Idiot: Although this is not a typical Bollywood movie, it is filmed on the lines of one. One Idiot is a part of the IDFC Foundations’ commitment to educate people about the importance of savings. The 30 minute movie directed by Amol Gupte is about a person who saves systematically from his young age and accumulates wealth over a period of time. This movie is aimed at youngsters, teaching the significance of saving from an early age.