An effective film will entertain, inform, and motivate the audience in various ways. Consider the influence that music has on individuals; it prompts reflection, fosters empathy, and encourages us to assist others and contribute positively to society. In addition to reflecting our varied cultures, cinema has long been instrumental in shaping our beliefs and values.

Movies facilitate business growth by providing a wealth of inspiration, real-life case studies, and tools for enhancing essential management skills. They present vicarious insights into success and failure, which can guide strategic choices without the expense of real-life errors. Here are the 5 Indian movies that inspire entrepreneurs.

Corporate

The narrative of the Indian movie `Corporate` revolves around the struggles for power between two business tycoons, namely `The Sehgal Group of Industries, and the `Marwah Group of Industries`. SGI is run by Vinay Sehgal, portrayed by Rajat Kapoor, while the Marwah Group is headed by Dharmesh Marwah, played by Raj Babbar.

These two companies are longstanding competitors in the food products sector. Bipasha Basu depicts Nishigandha Dasgupta, also known as Nishi, who serves as the vice president of SGI, and Vinay Sehgal's brother-in-law Ritesh, played by Kay Kay Menon, later joins as senior vice president. Ashwini, a politician supported by Sehgal, ascends to the role of Union Finance Minister, which enables the Sehgal Group to forge a profitable alliance with international food product giants Friscon.

During a CII meeting, the state Finance Minister Gulabrao announces that a public sector unit (PSU) is available for purchase. Both companies rush into a fierce competition, employing all their strategies to outdo one another. Nevertheless, at the last moment, Marwah's political maneuvering with Gulabrao results in the PSU being awarded to the Marwah Group, leaving Sehgal feeling disheartened. However, Nishi manages to win over Marwah Group's CEO Pervez, allowing her to siphon important information from his laptop.

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She discovers that Marwah had been deceiving the press about their plans to produce mineral water in the plant; in reality, they intended to create a mint-flavored soft drink. The Sehgal Group publicly declares that they will introduce their own mint-flavored soft drink called `Just Chill`, preempting Marwah Group’s anticipated launch. Marwah connects the leak back to Pervez and terminates his employment.

Guru

The movie starts with Guru recounting how his father advised him not to dream, claiming that dreams never come true.  The movie then goes back to Guru's childhood, where he expresses his desire to travel to Turkey after failing his math exams. This decision embarrasses his father, the headmaster of the school, but he ultimately permits him to go. While in Turkey, Guru distinguishes himself as a worker at Shell, where he is offered a promotion to sales supervisor, he declines in favor of starting his own business. 

Manik Dasgupta, who has taken on a paternal role for Guru, operates the newspaper Swatantra. When he discovers Guru's dishonest manipulation of his publication, he recruits Shyam Saxena, one of his journalists, to expose him. Shyam finds evidence that Shakti has evaded taxes on smuggled factory equipment and that its output exceeds legal limits by double. This information is printed in the newspaper. The stress from battling the newspaper leads Guru to suffer a stroke, and Meenu, Manik's daughter who is married to Shyam, passes away after struggling with multiple sclerosis. 

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Guru is called before a government panel to defend himself against the corruption allegations lodged against him. The following day, after addressing the press, Guru’s statements result in the government dropping nearly all the charges against him. He is left with only two charges, which he resolves by paying fines. Once settled, he is permitted to resume control of his company.

Swades

Set in contemporary India, SWADES addresses the challenges faced by the nation's citizens at a grassroots level. The India depicted in SWADES is vibrant, diverse, and intricate, and it is within this context that Mohan Bhargava, a talented young scientist working as a project manager at NASA, returns in search of his childhood caretaker. What begins as a straightforward journey spurred by nostalgia and affection evolves into an exploration of the essence of rural India, both literally and symbolically. Mohan discovers his nanny, Kaveriamma, who embodies motherhood, in a village named Charanpur, accompanied by an admirable young woman named Gita and her younger brother Chikku. 

Mohan starts engaging with the Panchayat, led by a principled yet rigid village chief. During his time there, he meets the charmingly eccentric Mela Ram [Dayashanker Pandey], who views Mohan as his pathway to launching a series of restaurants along American highways.

 

Mohan also forms a friendship with the local postmaster Nivaran , who clings to his antiquated customs, as well as with the village children, whose destinies are intertwined with that of the nation. Eventually, Mohan comes to understand that it is his scientific mindset as well as his grasp of social intricacies that can inspire the villagers to engage in a movement aimed at improving their lives.

Rocket Singh

After scoring a mere 38.72 percent at Mumbai University, Harpreet Singh Bedi  who resides with his grandfather PS Bedi finds employment as a salesman at AYS (At Your Service) Computers since he lacks the funds to enroll in a private MBA program. Nitin, the sales manager, reports to the CEO, Puri Although Nitin opposed the decision to hire Harpreet, Puri appreciated his sales talent. Harpreet is depicted living solely with his widowed grandfather P.S. Bedi and has a close circle of friends that includes Sai Ram the son of an IAS officer and a lawyer who encourages Harpreet to pursue an MBA, and Aparna "Appy" Singh (Debi Dutta), a designer. Harpreet excels at persuading and encouraging others, holding the belief that not everyone is motivated solely by money.

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As the narrative concludes, it depicts a job applicant visiting the Rocket Sales Corporation office, suggesting that the company has achieved considerable success, with P.S. Bedi taking on the role of accounts manager. The scene features the former AYS employees, now partners in the business, and ultimately concludes with Harpreet grinning warmly at a desk, demonstrating that integrity and diligence are effective business strategies in the long term.

Soorarai Pottru

Soorarai Pottru showcases Suriya in one of his most notable roles in recent years, focusing on Nedumaaran Rajangam, known as Maara (Suriya), and his aspiration to launch a low-cost airline that makes air travel accessible to everyone, regardless of their economic status. At a time when air travel was primarily available to the wealthy and those with considerable funds, Maara dreamed of making flying a possibility for all. A significant incident that takes place at an airport serves as the catalyst for Maara’s ambition to establish a low-cost airline, marking one of the movie's most impactful moments. The remainder of the plot follows Maara's determination to achieve his vision of affordable flying, but the path to success is fraught with challenges.