(Wealth management consultant, Ridhi FinServ)
After watching the Malayalam movie Jacobinte Swargarajyam (Jacob's Kingdom of Heaven), most viewers remember its emotional storyline and feel-good moments. But as a wealth management consultant, I saw something different — a realistic lesson in personal finance that many Indian families, especially NRIs, can relate to.
Jacob Zachariah and his family live the `Dubai Dream' — surrounded by luxury, social respect and a strong business reputation. But one financial setback turns their world upside down. Their peaceful life spirals into confusion, debt and despair.
What unfolds on screen isn’t just fiction — it’s a reflection of real-life financial fragility.
Jacob was a successful businessman. Yet when his business collapsed, there were no buffers — no emergency fund or fallback plan. Everything was built on the illusion of uninterrupted prosperity.
I often meet clients who earn well, live large and yet have no contingency plans. The first principle of wealth management is simple: “Wealth is not what you earn. It is what you retain and protect.”
Savings, liquidity and conservative investments may seem dull, but they are the life jackets that keep families afloat when financial storms hit.
In the film, when Jacob disappears, the family is left in the dark. Jerry (played by Nivin Pauly) suddenly has to take charge — but he doesn’t even know where to start.
This happens in many households where one person manages all the finances while others remain unaware. That lack of transparency can be dangerous, both emotionally and financially.
Every family should have a financial emergency kit containing:
--List of bank accounts
--Insurance details
--Investment portfolios
--Liabilities and EMIs
--Contact information of a trusted financial advisor
These aren’t just documents — they are a safety script that can protect your family’s future.
The real hero in the movie isn’t Jacob — it’s Jerry. He rises above panic, learns, adapts and slowly rebuilds the family’s life. That’s what true wealth creation is about — not just returns, but resilience.
As I often tell clients, “Your portfolio is not just numbers on a screen; it’s a story — of your goals, your setbacks and your comebacks.”
We tend to glamourise wealth. But real financial freedom is quiet, planned and, frankly, a bit boring. It’s the SIP that runs silently every month, the insurance policy you rarely think about, and the liquid fund you forget — until you need it most.
I see Jacobinte Swargarajyam as more than a film. It’s a financial mirror — especially for the large NRI community, whose stories of success often conceal hidden vulnerabilities.
We must learn not just to earn — but to prepare, protect and preserve.