Business learnings from the Amazon Prime Originals series 'Mirzapur-2'

Having watched Mirzapur-1, I was impressed enough to watch its sequel 'Mirzapur-2' released last week. Even in the post pandemic world, certain core business & social values matter, and I thought to pen down my views. Those interested to read views on Mirzapur-1 can click here.

1) Auctions trump the free market: Guddu Pandit manages to extract the maximum price via open bidding for opium. Similarly, a MNC representive tries to convince a crime patriach about avoiding competition for land in Siwan. Everyone loves auctions except when it affects them.

2) Diversity and Inclusion are often a veil for the real intent: In the movie, the Chief Minister gets his widowed daughter married to Munna after he is informed of their affair. He wins brownie points for women's empowerment, and for the low key court marriage, while he gets away with avoiding headlines and saving money.

3) Abuse of Statistics and inventing data: By dramatically referring to an empty file during the rally, and mis-using the contrast effect, Madhuri wins votes since there are no fact checkers to negate the false claims or mistatements.

4) Ethical compass has a cost: When Daddu refuses to allow sale of drugs in Bihar(blaming them for him being born as stunted)(aka the Don in the godfather), it creates fissures in the family and reduces his potential profit pool. It is also logically difficult to counter the question of Guddu Pandit that his other activities of gun running, car jacking are no less evil than drugs. That is why coherent frameworks matter.

5) Monetizing piracy: Kaleem Bhaiya agrees to Sharad Shukla's suggestion to punish those buying opium from Guddu Pandit, that they need to pay him 20% of the profits as a penalty, rather than being killed. This is similar to YouTube allowing content owners to monetize pirated content via ads or claim channel earnings, than take it down.

6) Merit based succession/The 3rd generation issue: Most family businesses fail to last beyond the 3rd generation due to the successors having got things on a platter. While Munna redeems himself with some smart moves this season, he messes it in a single stroke up by alienating his father's Man Friday, the chief enforcer Maqbool. This lays the foundation for the destruction of their family.

7) Disempowerment alienates people: The movie repeatedly shows examples of people trying to close deals(eg Bharat for opium, his brother for cars, Munna for guns), but being referred to seniors and/or policy. Entrepreneurs hate being restrained and may then violate orders or open parallel markets.

8) Sacrificing the pawn: Whether it is Lalit taking the blame for marriage violence, Munna using human shields, or Sharad giving up Yusuf to get into Munna's good books, the unfortunate reality is that those in weaker position of power('pawns') are sacrificed. This is one reason why Indian promoters often appoint a person as the Factory Director and 'occupier' so that that person will be jailed if anything goes wrong.

9) Bypass the Gate-keeper: JP Yadav(The CM's brother) is bypassed by Kaleem who lays out a case for the CM to deal directly with him, offering better terms and results, in return for not asking his son's sacrifice. This is not very different from the effort of dis-intermediation attempted where startups cut out those not adding perceived value.

10) The need for a business case along with 'purpose': Initially, Lala does not agree to help Guddu unless he knows what is it in for him. Hence, Guddu brings him a business case of territory expansion, and after doubling his money, Lala houses him in the mansion, to further the expansion, and to plan the revenge on the Tripathi's.

11) Management is not necessarily control especially when delegated: During a confrontation with his customers who are double dealing with Guddu, Kaleem makes Munna happy by declaring him as the successor and empowering him to decide the issue. However, Kaleem makes it clear later that that was just public and symbolic, but that he would exercise control and micromanage behind the scenes. This is simillar to what Cyrus Mistry had accused Ratan Tata and old Tata hands, of in the court filings.

This list is not exhaustive, just one POV. Comments welcome