Thaindian News

By Jaideep Sarin
Chandigarh, Oct 19 (IANS) Bunking college to watch movies may be commonplace for students, but not if some of the biggest Bollywood blockbusters come to them, that too as part of the curriculum!

Students of management courses at a leading private management college in Punjab, Aryans Business School (ABS), located 40 km from here along the Chandigarh-Patiala highway, are shown select but popular films to impart practical knowledge of management aspects.

Films like “3 Idiots”, “Chak De! India”, “Lakshya”, “Corporate”, “Guru”, “Swades”, “Taare Zameen Par” and “Iqbal” have been shown to over 300 B-school students, in both BBA and MBA courses.

“These films have been taken up as a case study through which students would study various aspects of management which can help them to be good and effective leaders in future,” ABS chairman Anshu Kataria told IANS here.

“These movies help understand concepts like strategy, motivation, determination, ambition, time and stress management, will power, resistance and change management, goal achievement, team management, the role of seniors, focus, talent management, organisational goal versus individual goals.

“These also teach things like sacrifice and winning, human capital management, business rivalry, inner driven leadership, delegation and empowerment, facing challenges, crisis management, balancing roles, mission accomplishment and killer instincts in a competitive environment,” Kataria said. Faculty members at ABS say the visual aids always have more impact on the young minds, especially in practically understanding management concepts.

Students at ABS are given a brief preview before the screening of important extracts of the movies. After the movies are screened, students have to prepare a case study of the different aspects they are assigned and to draw comparisons on dealing with situations in the context of management.

They later discuss these aspects with other students.

MBA student Vineet said: “Movies like ‘Lakshya’ teach us to have a goal in life, quantify it, make a timeframe and put all efforts towards the achievement of our goals.”
The movie features Priety Zinta and Hrithik Roshan.

Third semester MBA student Aman said Abhishek Bachchan-starrer “Guru” showed how to properly utilise all resources and show dedication towards a goal in life.

MBA-I student Shubham said that “3 Idiots” showed how a positive approach could help in facing challenges and succeed in life. He added that the movie also reflected our present education system.

Faculty member Bharti Sharma told IANS: “Students really get motivated by the movies. Discussions are held about motivation, leadership qualities and ethics in business management.

“The students get quite inspired with the exercise. They are thrilled and motivated to participate, learn from the theme, discuss and analyse. Such an exercise makes them think analytically and inculcate a sense of participation.”

(Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at jaideep.s@ians.in)