PESTEL as a Bollywood Blockbuster

PESTEL as a Bollywood Blockbuster

The PESTEL framework (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) is a strategic tool (mostly in marketing) used to analyze and monitor the external macro-environmental factors that might impact an organization. I am sure you have seen many Bollywood movies – so lets take some inspiration from them and understand PESEL with a very different perspective of movies!

 

🏛️ P – Political: “Raajneeti” (2010)

• Theme: Government policies, political stability, and interference.

• Example: Just like the power struggles in Raajneeti, businesses operate in environments shaped by political parties, coalitions, and public policies. A change in government can shift the business climate—think GST rollout or Make in India.

• Real-world parallel: The rise of renewable energy startups due to favorable government subsidies.

---

💰 E – Economic: “Guru” (2007)

• Theme: GDP growth, interest rates, economic liberalization.

• Example: Guru shows how India’s liberalization in the 1990s opened doors for entrepreneurs like Gurukant Desai. Economic conditions—whether recession or boom—influence investment and consumer spending.

• Real-world parallel: Flipkart and Paytm’s rise during India’s mobile and fintech boom.

---

👪 S – Social: “Dil Dhadakne Do” (2015)

• Theme: Changing family values, lifestyles, aspirations.

• Example: This film captures modern, urban Indian families navigating love, identity, and tradition. Marketers must track such cultural shifts—rising individualism, youth rebellion, growing feminism—to adapt products and messaging.

• Real-world parallel: Rise in wellness brands, dating apps, or gender-neutral advertising.

---

🤖 T – Technological: “Robot” (2010) / “3 Idiots” (2009)

• Theme: Innovation, AI, automation, tech disruption.

• Example: In Robot, Chitti represents both the promise and threat of AI. In 3 Idiots, the pressure to innovate (like flying drones or voice-controlled systems) shows how tech drives change in education and industry.

• Real-world parallel: Rise of AI-powered edtech platforms like BYJU’s or personalized learning.

---

🌱 E – Environmental: “Swades” (2004) / “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha” (2017)

• Theme: Sustainability, resource use, and rural development.

• Example: Swades shows water and power issues in Indian villages, while Toilet addresses sanitation. Environmental concerns influence sectors like FMCG, infrastructure, and tourism.

• Real-world parallel: Companies promoting sustainable packaging (e.g., Tata Tea’s “Jaago Re” campaigns).

---

⚖️ L – Legal: “Jolly LLB” (2013) / “Section 375” (2019)

• Theme: Legal systems, compliance, IP, and ethics.

• Example: Jolly LLB highlights how businesses can be affected by loopholes, corruption, or legal activism. Section 375 shows how legal interpretations can affect public perception and operations.

• Real-world parallel: Data privacy laws affecting Facebook or Amazon’s compliance with Indian e-commerce regulations.

---

⭐ Summary Table: PESTEL x Bollywood