Small Story 476.

Small Story 476. “A Memorable Encounter with Sandalwood Legends” Rajan and Arjun were close friends who had retired from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM). They lived near each other in the well-known JP Nagar area. For the past twelve years of their retirement, their families had met every three months—sometimes over tea, sometimes for lunch—strengthening their bond with each passing year. Both Rajan and Arjun shared a deep love for old Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi songs. One day, Rajan received a call from Arjun. Arjun informed him that one of his relatives from Mumbai had come to Bengaluru. The relative, Srikanth, was a well-known cinematographer working in both Bollywood and the Kannada film industry. Srikanth was planning to meet popular Sandalwood personalities, including the renowned director Nagabharana and actor-director Ramesh Bhat, at a special programme. He invited Rajan and Arjun to accompany him. Rajan, who greatly admired both film legends, gladly accepted the invitation. That evening, the programme turned out to be a delightful experience. Rajan and Arjun enjoyed meaningful conversations with the two Sandalwood stalwarts, who were equally pleased to meet the retired IIM professors. The discussion ranged from cinema and storytelling to modern management concepts and their relevance to the film industry. After dinner, Rajan and Arjun returned home with Srikanth, feeling fulfilled and inspired. Nagabharana and Ramesh Bhat were impressed by the professors’ deep understanding of cinema and their genuine admiration for direction, storytelling, editing, and cinematography. Rajan warmly thanked Srikanth for the opportunity, while Arjun felt grateful for having facilitated such a memorable meeting with two legends of the Sandalwood film industry. K.Ragavan 31-12-25