World Thrift Day is observed on October 30. This day serves as a reminder for people to invest their money prudently. Silverscreen India draws up a list of nine films, revolving around finance, that will educate and inspire you to save and spend wisely.
- Margin Call (2011)
Set in 2008, this film takes place in a span of 24 hours where a firm is on the brink of a major crisis. Analyst (Zachary Quinto), working at an investment bank, is given a flash drive that has damaging information. As head of sales, Sam Rogers (Kevin Spacey) sets out to make things right, the film is a take on the 2008 financial crisis. It delves into the ruthless and reckless world of risk-taking and its consequences.
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Directed by veteran filmmaker Martin Scorsese, this biopic is based on real-life stockbroker and salesman Jordan Belfort. Belfort was accused of running pump and dump schemes behind his well-established firm Stratton Oakmont. A highly entertaining film filled with lavish lifestyles and fraudulent schemes, this film is apt for those who are beginning to learn about finance. Coincidentally, the film’s producer Riza Aziz was involved in a massive financial scandal in Malaysia. He faced criminal charges for laundering over $248 million. The charges were dropped after he returned assets worth $107 million.
- Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009)
Starring Ranbir Kapoor, this film revolves around Harpreet Singh Bedi who wishes to become a successful salesman in an ethical manner. Working in a big corporate company called AYS, he soon becomes disillusioned with the corrupt and cut-throat nature of the company. Later, he starts his firm ‘Rocket Sales’ within AYS. Rocket Singh is a light-hearted and comedic take on the ruthlessness of the corporate world, coupled with promoting values like honesty and ethical business practices.
- Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
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This rom-com explores the life of Rebeccaa, a broke shopaholic, who accidentally ends up working for a financial magazine despite having no knowledge about the field. The film focuses on issues such as the importance of saving money, credit card debt, and over-consumption. This film is for those who want to pick up on a few important savings and financial tips in a fun and subtle manner.
- The Big Short (2015)
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Helmed as one of the finest films ever made on stock markets, this film stars Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, and Steve Carell. Based on the US housing bubble of 2007, this film depicts how a bunch of people predicted the crisis and began to investigate the corrupt market. The film is known for its comical and unconventional explanations of financial terms and instruments. It also stars Selena Gomez, Margot Robbie, and Anthony Bourdain in cameo roles.
- Budget Padmanabhan (2000)
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Though the film does not directly touch upon finance, the central theme revolves around saving money. The film’s central character, Padmanabhan (Prabhu), has a reputation of being a miser. Due to an unpleasant experience in his childhood, he is very careful with money and is always looking for ways to save. However, things get complicated as he encounters numerous obstacles that threaten to hamper his goal of buying back his ancestral property. The Tamil film also sheds light on human relationships and how emotions take precedence over money and finances.
- Gafla (2006)
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This film is loosely based on the 1992 financial scam involving late stockbroker Harshad Mehta. It revolves around Subodh Mehta who goes onto to become a key player in Mumbai’s Dalal Street. The narrative captures Mehta’s journey of becoming a successful stock market operator and eventually getting involved in a Rs 4,000-crore scam that leads to the Indian stock market to crash.
- Wall Street (1987)
A young, aspiring stockbroker Bud (Charlie Sheen) is mentored by a corrupt and wealthy corporate raider Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas). The latter introduces Bud to the world of insider trading and unlimited greed and ambition. Known for the iconic line, “Greed is good”, this film served as a cautionary tale for those who want to indulge in insider trading.
- Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006)
This film inadvertently educates the audience about important financial concepts. Kamal Kishore Khosla (Anupam Kher) invests all his savings to buy a plot, which is later usurped by a rich builder. Khosla then takes it upon himself to retrieve the property without paying a penny to the greedy builder. Touted as a heart-warming tale of the Indian middle class and their aspirations, this film manages to shed light on the importance of property holdings and diversifying one’s investments and savings.
