Date: 17th July 2026
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Duration: 2 Hours
Location: Pillai University Respective Classrooms
Audience: MBA Students
As part of UDAAN 2026, the MBA Orientation Programme for the Incoming MBA 2026 batch, held from 13th to 27th July 2026 at the School of Business, Pillai University, an Innovative Experiential learning Session Titled “Reel to Real Lab: Exploring Management, Leadership and Human Behaviour through Cinema” was conducted on 16th and 17th July 2026. Facilitated across all four MBA divisions (A, B, C and D), the initiative introduced students to the world of management, leadership and organizational behaviour through the powerful and engaging medium of cinema.The programme reflects Pillai University’s commitment to experiential learning by creating an engaging environment where students move beyond conventional classroom instruction to analyse, reflect and apply management concepts through real-life cinematic narratives.
The initiative was structured around the R.E.E.L. Framework:
- Reflect – Observe characters, situations and emotions.
- Examine – Analyse behaviours, decisions, conflicts and relationships.
- Extract – Identify management, leadership and organizational behaviour concepts.
- Lead – Apply these insights to academic, professional and personal life.
Prior to the sessions, students from MBA Divisions A, B, C and D were divided into six groups within each division and assigned carefully curated films as pre-work. The movie bank included 12th Fail, Chak De! India, Lagaan, Gold, 3 Idiots and Guru, each illustrating themes such as resilience, leadership, teamwork, innovation, ethics, coaching, entrepreneurship and strategic decision-making.
During the interactive sessions, every group was provided 45 minutes to prepare a creative presentation, followed by an 8-minute presentation and a 2-minute question-and-answer session. Students showcased their understanding through role plays, dramatic performances, poetry, storytelling and other innovative formats, making the learning process highly participative and engaging.
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation across all four MBA divisions. Students effectively integrated concepts of management, leadership and organizational behaviour with situations portrayed in the films, demonstrating critical thinking, collaboration, communication skills and reflective learning. The experiential format enabled students to appreciate the practical application of management theories while fostering teamwork, peer learning and collaboration at the very beginning of their MBA journey.
Conceptualized and facilitated by Dr. Krushna R. Sawant and Dr. Vivekanand Pawar, the Reel to Real Lab Exploring Management, Leadership and Human Behaviour through Cinema emerged as one of the highlights of the UDAAN 2026 Orientation Programme. The initiative exemplifies Pillai University’s vision of providing innovative, experiential and learner-centric management education that prepares students to become reflective, ethical and future-ready leaders.
Through initiatives such as Reel to Real Lab Exploring Management, Leadership and Human Behaviour through Cinema, Pillai University continues to redefine management education by integrating creativity, reflection and experiential pedagogy into the student learning experience, ensuring that every learner begins the MBA journey with confidence, collaboration and a strong foundation in leadership and management.
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