Top 10 Inspiring Indian Business Movies

Mahaveer Sanglikar

The Indian film industry produces hundreds of movies every year, but very few focus on business. Unfortunately, even those who do often fail to take the subject seriously. They get bogged down with unrelated stuff like romantic plots, too many songs, unnecessary comedy, and violence. Plus, many of these so-called business movies paint businesspeople as either crooks or tied to the underworld.

Picking the best Indian business films for this article was tough, but I finally managed to do it after a lot of research.

Below is a list of ten inspiring Indian business films. While some of these films may portray negative aspects, let’s focus solely on their positive attributes, including the protagonist’s ambition, confidence, decision-making prowess, communication skills, managerial abilities, innovative ideas, adventurous spirit, and more:

Rocket Singh Salesman of The Year

“Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year” is a unique look at the world of corporate sales. This is the story of a young salesman who navigates the cutthroat world of sales with honesty and integrity.

Harpreet Singh Bedi, a recent college graduate who joins a sales firm with dreams of becoming a successful salesman. However, he quickly learns that the industry is dominated by unethical practices, high-pressure sales tactics, and fierce competition. Disillusioned by the corrupt environment, Rocket Singh decided to follow his moral compass and launch his startup within the company, focusing on providing genuine solutions to customers rather than pushing products for profit.

The film’s strongest selling point is its theme of integrity in the world of sales. It encourages viewers to question business ethics and promotes the notion that success does not have to come at the expense of one’s values. “Rocket Singh” demonstrates how hard work, dedication, and creativity can lead to success even when swimming against the tide.

One of the film’s most notable aspects is its realistic depiction of corporate life and the challenges that employees face. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and the characters are well-developed. Ranbir Kapoor gives an outstanding performance as the charming and determined Rocket Singh. The transformation of his character from a naive, wide-eyed salesman to an innovative entrepreneur is both inspiring and heartwarming.

Directed by Shimit Amin
Written by Jaideep Sahni
Produced by Aditya Chopra

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Gauahar Khan, Shazahn Padamsee, D. Santosh, Manish Chaudhari, and many others.

IMDB Rating: 7.5/10

Soorarai Pottru (Udaan)

Soorarai Pottru is a Tamil film. The meaning of the title is ‘Praise the Brave’. The story revolves around Nedumaaran Rajangam, a driven and passionate individual who aspires to revolutionize India’s aviation industry. The plot is loosely based on Captain Gopinath’s life as the founder of Air Deccan. The audience is drawn into Nedumaaran’s world from the start, and his struggles and relentless pursuit of his dream are depicted in a deeply moving and realistic manner.

One of the most notable aspects of “Soorarai Pottru” is its social and political commentary. The film addresses bureaucratic hurdles and corruption in the Indian aviation industry, which adds depth to the plot and gives it a sense of relevance and urgency.

Soorarai Pottru is a must-watch film that combines a compelling story, outstanding performances, and a timely social message. It represents the unbeatable human spirit and the strength of determination. This film not only entertains its audience but also leaves a lasting impression on them, making it one of the most significant and memorable Tamil films. Don’t pass up the chance to see this cinematic masterpiece.

The film got 77 nominations and won 44 in various film awards.

Directed by Sudha Kongara

Cast: Suriya, Aparna Balamurali, Paresh Rawal, Mohan Babu, Urvashi, Rajangam
Karunas as Alapparai, Poo Ramu and many others.

IMDB Rating: 8.7/10

Band Baaja Baaraat

Band Baaja Baaraat is a Hindi movie that portrays the story of two young entrepreneurs, Shruti Kakkar and Bittoo Sharma, who team up to launch a wedding planning business in the heart of Delhi. The plot intertwines their personal ambitions and professional endeavors beautifully.

The story of the film is a heartfelt exploration of the dreams, struggles, and ambitions of urban Indian youth. It emphasizes the complexities of interpersonal relationships, the importance of self-sufficiency, and the worth of hard work. “Band Baaja Baaraat” combines the exhilarating world of wedding planning with the emotional ups and downs of a budding love story, and it does so with authenticity and charm.

Direction and Story by Maneesh Sharma
Screenplay by Habib Faisal
Produced by Aditya Chopra

Cast: Ranveer Singh as Bittoo Sharma, Anushka Sharma as Shruti Kakkar, Neeraj Sood, Puru Chibber, Manish Choudhary

IMDB Rating: 7.9/10

Miss India

Miss India is a Telugu language film directed by Narendra Nath and produced by Mahesh S. Koneru. This film is available on Netflix in Telugu, as well as dubbed versions in Malayalam and Tamil. There is a Hindi dubbed version available on YouTube. Viewers responded enthusiastically to the Hindi-dubbed version.

Manasa Samyuktha, a middle-class ambitious Indian woman, migrates to the United States after her brother gets a job there. She wants to open a tea shop. She faces problems, criticism, and rivalry on her business journey and eventually becomes a successful businesswoman.

The film is an inspiring story of female empowerment, highlighting the struggles and obstacles that women frequently face when attempting to break into male-dominated industries. It is the story of Samyukta’s transformation from a small-town girl to a strong, independent businesswoman. Her charisma and determination shine through the film, making her character relatable and endearing.

Cast: Keerthy Suresh as Manasa Samyuktha, Jagapathi Babu as her rival Kailash Sivakumar, and many others.

Proprietors Kammath and Kammath

Proprietors Kammath and Kammath is a story of two brothers Raja Raja and Dev Raja. They started a small food business of Dosa making (Dosa is a famous South Indian Dish). Their business grows and they start a vegetarian restaurant. Eventually, their business grew into a chain of restaurants across South India.

Meanwhile, they face obstacles and problems from their rival, but they manage the rival by making him their friend.

This is a good business movie with a thrilling story.

Directed by Thomson K Thomas, Produced by Anto Joseph.

Cast: Mammootty as Raja Raja Kammath and Dileep as Deva Raja Kammath, and many others.

This movie is available on Prime Video. The Hindi dubbed version is available on YouTube.

Corporate

Corporate is a thought-provoking and intense portrayal of the ruthless nature of the corporate world. This riveting Hindi film delves into the complexities of corporate life.

The plot of the film revolves around the struggle for power in the Indian corporate sector, particularly in the ruthless world of pharmaceuticals. The story follows Nishigandha Dasgupta a sharp and ambitious woman aspiring to the top of the corporate ladder. Her mentor Vinay Sehgal is a slick and experienced businessman who believes in ruthless competition and ethics.

The film deftly explores the complexities of corporate politics, backstabbing, and the sacrifices people make to advance up the corporate ladder. It also delves into the harsh realities of cutthroat competition, media manipulation, and the constant pressure to maintain a corporate integrity facade.

This film is an insightful film about the complexities of corporate life. It’s a dark, intense drama with a lasting impact, thanks to the cast’s strong performances and realistic depiction of the corporate world’s ruthless dynamics. While its stark and gritty nature may not appeal to everyone, those interested in thought-provoking dramas with a focus on power, ambition, and ethical quandaries will find this film to be a compelling watch.

Direction and screenplay by Madhur Bhandarkar
Story by Madhur Bhandarkar, Manoj Tyagi and Ajay Monga

Cast: Bipasha Basu, Kay Kay Menon, Rajat Kapoor, Raj Babbar, Minissha Lamba, Sameer Dattan, Harsh Chhaya, and others

IMDB Rating: 6.6./10

Guru

Guru is the story of Gurukant Desai, a guy from a Village in Gujarat, who comes to the city of Mumbai and becomes a very successful businessman. The movie portrays Guru’s entrepreneurial spirit, ambitions, and success.

“Guru” is more than just a story about one man’s rise to business success; it delves into complex themes of ambition, ethics, and the blurred line between right and wrong. The film makes the audience consider the consequences of ambition and the moral quandaries that individuals pursuing success face.

Direction, story, screenplay by Mani Ratnam

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan as Gurukant Desai, Aishwarya Rai, Mithun Chakraborty, R. Madhavan, Vidya Balan, Roshan Seth, Mallika Sherawat, others

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

Gafla

“Gafla” is a captivating Hindi film that delves into the fascinating world of stock market manipulation and financial fraud. This film takes you on a roller-coaster ride through the deceptive world of stock trading and the moral dilemmas that its characters face.

This is the story of a young man Subodh Mehta who aspires to make it big in the stock market. Subodh’s transformation from an inexperienced trader to an astute manipulator is depicted with a keen eye for detail. The film does an excellent job of explaining how the stock market works and the complexities of trading, making it understandable even to those with limited knowledge of financial markets.

The film also sheds light on the characters’ ethical and moral quandaries. It raises issues about the fine line between ambition and greed, as well as the consequences of crossing it. “Gafla” does not shy away from exposing the stock market’s dark underbelly, where dishonesty and manipulation can yield enormous rewards but also have serious consequences.

Directed by: Sameer Hanchate

Cast: Vinod Sharawat as Subodh Mehta, Shruti Ulfat, Purva Parag, Vikram Gokhale, Brijendra Kala, Shakti Singh and others

IMDB Rating: 7.4/10

Baazaar

Baazaar is a financial thriller drama movie that immerses you in the high-stakes world of Mumbai’s financial district, where ambition, greed, and power rule supreme. This film is a rollercoaster ride through the lives of stock market traders, and it manages to deliver a gripping story with outstanding performances and sharp dialogue.

The film’s portrayal of the financial world feels genuine, and it provides insight into the strategies and manipulations that take place behind the scenes. It delves into themes such as ambition, betrayal, and the high price of success. However, some may find the stock market depiction to be overly simplified for cinematic purposes.

Directed by: Gauravv K. Chawla

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Rohan Vinod Mehra, Radhika Apte, Chitrangada Singh, others

IMDB Rating: 6.5/10

Jomonte Suvisheshangal

Jomonte Suvisheshangal (Meaning Jomon’s Gospels) is a Malayalam movie that revolves around Jomon, who is the heir to a prosperous business family. Jomon’s character is a welcome change from the stereotypical rich and arrogant protagonist seen so frequently in Indian cinema. He plays a kind, generous, and responsible young man, which is a refreshing change that makes the character easy to root for.

“Jomonte Suvisheshangal” is more than just a family drama; it also addresses themes of ambition, responsibility, and the importance of balancing personal ambitions with family obligations. The film does an excellent job of portraying these complex issues and encourages viewers to reflect on their own lives and relationships.

Directed by Sathyan Anthikad
Written by Iqbal Kuttippuram
Produced by Sethu Mannarkad

Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Mukesh, Aishwarya Rajesh, others

IMDB rating: 6.6/10