In a rapidly changing world, the future belongs to communities that can connect experience with ambition, ideas with opportunity, and heritage with innovation.

It is with this vision that the Global Accelerator Vision Summit (GAVS) 2026 is bringing together leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, students, innovators and changemakers for a three-day global gathering at Bangalore Palace from 25–27 December 2026.

GAVS is envisioned not simply as another business conference, but as a platform for meaningful conversations, relationships, mentorship, entrepreneurship and long-term community development.

Why GAVS Matters

The business ecosystem is evolving faster than ever.

Technology is transforming industries. Artificial intelligence is changing the way businesses operate. New entrepreneurs are entering markets with ambitious ideas, while established enterprises are looking for new opportunities to innovate and expand.

At the same time, there is a growing need to preserve cultural heritage, encourage ethical leadership and create opportunities for the next generation.

GAVS brings these dimensions together.

The summit is an initiative of the Karnataka Arya Vysya Mahasabha (KAVMS) and is built around the idea that collective knowledge, capital, ambition and collaboration can create opportunities that extend beyond individuals and businesses.

Its guiding principles are:

Integrity. Innovation. Inclusivity.

From Heritage to Future

Every successful community carries a legacy.

GAVS seeks to celebrate that legacy while creating pathways for the future. Its vision is to build a cohesive global community where individuals and enterprises can connect, collaborate and contribute to collective progress.

One of its strategic priorities is uplifting the glory of heritage — recognising the achievements, culture and contributions of previous generations while encouraging today’s generation to build upon that foundation.

But GAVS is not focused only on looking back.

It is equally focused on what comes next.

The summit aims to provide platforms for entrepreneurs, startups, young professionals, women leaders and emerging innovators to access knowledge, mentorship, networks and opportunities.

A Meeting Point for Visionaries

GAVS is designed to bring different segments of society and business into one ecosystem.

Entrepreneurs can discover new connections.

Investors can engage with emerging ideas.

Professionals can expand their networks.

Students and young people can interact with experienced leaders.

Established businesses can explore collaboration and new markets.

The objective is to create meaningful interactions rather than simply gathering people in one venue.

The summit’s focus includes areas such as global trade and investment, entrepreneurship and innovation, women in leadership, youth and future leadership, philanthropy and social impact.

Creating Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship is one of the central pillars of GAVS.

Across India and around the world, thousands of entrepreneurs are building businesses, developing new technologies and creating employment.

Yet access to the right networks, mentors, investors and strategic opportunities can often determine how quickly an idea can grow.

GAVS aims to help bridge this gap by creating an environment where emerging innovators can meet mentors and investors, while entrepreneurs can gain access to knowledge and potential collaborations.

The summit’s Startup Conclave and Growth Accelerator initiatives are designed around this broader objective — helping ambitious ideas move closer to sustainable enterprise and growth.

Empowering the Next Generation

The future of any community depends on its ability to prepare the next generation.

GAVS places particular emphasis on youth, careers, leadership and empowerment.

The summit includes a Career Carnival, alongside initiatives focused on youth and future leadership. The broader objective is to connect young people with knowledge, mentors and opportunities while encouraging them to approach leadership with vision, responsibility and integrity.

For students and young professionals, exposure to experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders can provide perspectives that go beyond conventional classrooms.

For experienced leaders, engaging with the next generation can create opportunities to share knowledge and help shape future talent.

This exchange of ideas is one of the foundations of a sustainable ecosystem.

Women in Leadership

Inclusive growth requires participation from everyone.

GAVS highlights Women in Leadership as an important area of its global conversations, with a focus on empowering women leaders and recognising their contribution to business and society.

Creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs and professionals to connect with mentors, investors and industry leaders can contribute to a broader and more diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Business Beyond Business

Economic growth is important, but sustainable development also depends on social responsibility.

GAVS therefore brings entrepreneurship and social impact into the same conversation.

Its focus areas include philanthropy and social impact, social responsibility and ethical leadership, and empowerment and inclusive growth.

The underlying idea is simple:

Businesses can create value not only through financial growth, but also through the communities they help build.

A Global Perspective

The word “global” in Global Accelerator Vision Summit reflects its ambition to build connections across geographies.

The summit seeks to bring together people from different regions, industries and generations to encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Its conversations extend across areas including technology, artificial intelligence, real estate, jewellery, professional services and skill development.

This cross-industry approach creates an opportunity for participants to discover ideas outside their immediate sectors.

A technology entrepreneur may meet an investor.

A young founder may meet an experienced business leader.

A professional may discover a new career opportunity.

A traditional enterprise may find a technology partner.

A student may discover a completely new path.

That is the potential of a connected ecosystem.

Three Days. Nine Tracks. One Community.

The Global Accelerator Vision Summit 2026 will take place from 25 to 27 December 2026 at Bangalore Palace, Bengaluru.

The official GAVS platform describes the summit as:

Three days. Nine tracks. One unified community on a global stage.

Across the three days, participants can expect strategic conversations, networking opportunities, curated experiences and opportunities to connect with leaders and fellow participants.

The summit is designed to move beyond traditional conference formats and create an environment for interaction, collaboration and meaningful relationships.

The Journey Has Already Begun

GAVS 2026 is not beginning with the main summit alone.

The initiative has already been building momentum through a series of programmes and engagements.

These have included a Curtain Raiser, a Pre-Summit Leadership Meet, and a GAVS Roadshow, creating opportunities for community members, entrepreneurs and business leaders to connect ahead of the December summit.

These engagements are part of a larger effort to build the GAVS ecosystem before the main gathering.

More Than an Event

Perhaps the most important idea behind GAVS is that its purpose extends beyond three days.

The vision is to create a continuing ecosystem of mentorship, collaboration and opportunity.

That means the conversations that begin at the summit can potentially continue through business relationships, mentorship, partnerships, community initiatives and future collaborations.

In this sense, GAVS represents a broader movement towards connecting people and ideas.

Who Should Be Part of GAVS?

GAVS is designed for a diverse audience, including:

• Entrepreneurs and business owners
• Startup founders
• Investors
• CXOs and corporate leaders
• Industry professionals
• Students and young professionals
• Women entrepreneurs and leaders
• Innovators and technology professionals
• Community leaders
• Professionals looking for new opportunities
• Organisations interested in partnerships and collaboration

Whether you are building your first venture, leading an established organisation, exploring investment opportunities, developing your career or looking for meaningful connections, GAVS offers a platform to engage with a wider ecosystem.

A New Chapter in Community Leadership

Communities grow when generations connect.

Experience provides wisdom.

Youth provides energy.

Entrepreneurship creates opportunity.

Innovation creates new possibilities.

And collaboration brings these strengths together.

GAVS seeks to create a space where all of these elements can meet.

Its vision of “Uniting Visionaries. Empowering Generations.” captures this objective — connecting today’s leaders with tomorrow’s changemakers while creating a platform where ideas, opportunities and relationships can grow.

Be Part of the GAVS Journey

The Global Accelerator Vision Summit 2026 will take place at Bangalore Palace, Bengaluru, from 25–27 December 2026.

The official registration platform currently offers different participation options, including one-day, two-day, three-day business passes and a three-day business delegate pass.

But participation in GAVS is about more than attending an event.

It is about being part of a growing ecosystem.

An ecosystem where vision meets opportunity, experience meets ambition, heritage meets innovation, and individuals come together to create collective impact.

GAVS 2026

Uniting Visionaries.
Empowering Generations.

25–27 December 2026
Bangalore Palace, Bengaluru

Discover the vision.
Meet the people.
Build the connections.
Be part of the movement.

Explore GAVS 2026 and Register

Read more at Prathap Setty

27 years later, Real Star Upendra’s most unconventional creation returns to the big screen on September 18, 2026

Some films entertain you.
Some films stay with you.
And then there are films that make you question yourself.

Upendra, the 1999 Kannada psychological drama thriller written and directed by Real Star Upendra, belongs firmly to the third category.

Originally released on October 22, 1999, the film arrived with an unconventional narrative, provocative ideas, philosophical undertones and a protagonist who called himself “Naanu” — I. More than two decades later, the film has developed a cult following that continues to grow across generations.

Now, on the occasion of Upendra’s birthday, September 18, 2026, release is happening under Pati Sudev distribution company produced by Sri Srinivas.  This iconic film is returning to theatres, giving longtime fans an opportunity to relive the madness on the big screen while introducing a new generation to a film that was far ahead of its time.

A Film That Refused to Follow the Rules

When Upendra released in 1999, mainstream cinema largely followed familiar storytelling structures. Heroes had identifiable motivations, characters had clearly defined personalities, and stories generally guided audiences toward a particular emotional conclusion.

Upendra did something very different.

The protagonist, Naanu, is unapologetically self-centred. He is driven by desire, ambition, greed, attraction and the constant pursuit of what he believes he wants.

The film uses Naanu’s relationships with three women — portrayed by Prema, Damini and Raveena Tandon — as a metaphorical exploration of human desires and emotions.

Rather than simply telling a love story, Upendra uses the characters to explore a larger question:

What happens when “I” becomes more important than everything else?

That question is at the heart of the film.

The Meaning Behind “Upendra”

Even the title carries a layer of interpretation.

The film features the characters associated with Upendra, Prema, Damini and Raveena, and the title has been popularly interpreted through their names.

But the deeper significance lies in the protagonist’s identity.

He calls himself “Naanu”, meaning “I”.

It is a deceptively simple word.

“I want.”

“I need.”

“I deserve.”

“I love.”

“I hate.”

“I will get what I want.”

Through this constant emphasis on “I”, the film turns the protagonist into a representation of human ego and desire.

The result is a character who is difficult to categorise as simply a hero or villain.

He is human — and that is precisely what makes him uncomfortable to watch.

Three Women, Three Dimensions of Desire

One of the film’s most fascinating elements is the way its female characters contribute to the philosophical structure of the narrative.

Prema, Damini and Raveena Tandon play important roles in Naanu’s journey, with their relationships with him reflecting different dimensions of his desires and ambitions.

The relationships aren’t merely romantic subplots.

They become part of a larger examination of:

• Love
• Attraction
• Possession
• Wealth
• Security
• Ambition
• Ego
• Human greed

This is one reason why the film continues to invite discussion even years after its original release.

You can watch Upendra purely as an entertainer.

Or you can watch it as a psychological exploration of human behaviour.

Either way, the film leaves you with something to think about.

Upendra — The Actor and the Filmmaker

One of the biggest reasons the film remains distinctive is that Upendra was both the writer-director and the lead actor.

His filmmaking style was already known for challenging conventional storytelling, and Upendra pushed that approach even further.

Instead of creating a conventional protagonist for the audience to admire, he created one who could make the audience uncomfortable, laugh, disagree and think — sometimes within the same scene.

That unconventional approach became one of the defining characteristics of Upendra’s filmmaking.

His writing, direction and performance came together to create a film that was difficult to compare with conventional commercial cinema of its period.

Gurukiran’s Music Added Another Layer

The film’s musical identity is another important part of its legacy.

Gurukiran composed the music, while Upendra contributed to the film’s lyrics and writing.

The music became an important part of the film’s appeal, helping balance its philosophical and unconventional storytelling with commercial entertainment.

For audiences who experienced the movie during its original theatrical run, the songs became part of the nostalgia surrounding Upendra.

And for today’s audiences, hearing those songs again on the big screen is another reason the re-release carries a special emotional value.

A Film That Became a Cult Classic

The word “cult” is often used loosely today.

But Upendra genuinely developed a devoted audience that continued to discuss, quote and revisit the film long after its original theatrical run.

The movie was also recognised beyond conventional commercial cinema. It was screened at the 30th International Film Festival of India, and it later travelled to the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Japan. The film also won Filmfare Awards for Best Film (Kannada) and Best Director (Kannada).

That combination — commercial reach, critical recognition and a long-lasting fan following — helped establish its reputation as one of Kannada cinema’s distinctive films.

Why Does Upendra Still Feel Relevant?

This may be the most interesting question.

Why would a film made in 1999 still attract audiences in 2026?

Because the central subject hasn’t changed.

Human beings are still driven by:

Desire.
Money.
Love.
Recognition.
Possession.
Ego.
Fear.
Ambition.

Technology has changed.

Social media has changed.

Cinema has changed.

But human psychology hasn’t changed nearly as much.

In fact, in today’s world of Instagram identities, personal branding, instant gratification and constant comparison, the concept of “I” arguably has an even more visible presence in everyday life.

That makes Upendra an interesting film for a generation that wasn’t even born when it originally released.

1999 vs 2026: A Completely Different Viewing Experience

For audiences who watched Upendra in 1999, the film is a journey back to a particular era of Kannada cinema.

For younger audiences discovering it in 2026, the experience can be completely different.

They may see:

• An experimental screenplay
• Unconventional characterisation
• Psychological storytelling
• Philosophical themes
• Symbolism
• Non-traditional commercial cinema
• A filmmaker willing to challenge his audience

And perhaps the most fascinating part is this:

A film that was considered unconventional in 1999 can look surprisingly contemporary in 2026.

That is one of the strongest signs of a film with lasting artistic identity.

The Big-Screen Comeback

After its original theatrical release on October 22, 1999, Upendra is returning to theatres on September 18, 2026, coinciding with Real Star Upendra’s birthday.

The timing makes the re-release more than just another theatrical screening.

It becomes a celebration of:

Upendra the actor.
Upendra the director.
Upendra the writer.
And the unconventional cinematic voice that he brought to Kannada cinema.

For longtime fans, it is a chance to revisit memories.

For younger audiences, it is an opportunity to discover a film that shaped a unique chapter in Kannada cinema.

And for cinema lovers, it is a reminder that a genuinely distinctive film can continue to find audiences decades after its first release.

Why You Should Experience Upendra in a Theatre

There are films that are perfectly comfortable on a small screen.

Upendra isn’t necessarily one of them.

The film’s visual style, music, dialogues, performances and audience reactions become a different experience when shared collectively inside a theatre.

And cult films have a special relationship with theatrical audiences.

You don’t simply watch them.

You react to them.

You laugh at familiar moments.

You repeat iconic dialogues.

You anticipate scenes.

You discover details you may have missed before.

And when the lights come back on, the discussion continues outside the theatre.

That is the magic of a cult classic.

27 Years Later, The Question Remains

On October 22, 1999, Upendra asked audiences to look at themselves through the character of Naanu.

On September 18, 2026, a new generation gets the opportunity to ask the same question:

How much of “Naanu” exists within all of us?

Perhaps that is why the film has survived.

Because Upendra isn’t ultimately about one man.

It is about “I”.

The “I” inside every human being.

And that makes the film as much a conversation about us as it is about Naanu.

Upendra Returns. The Madness Continues.

Twenty-seven years after its original release, the cult classic is once again ready to occupy the big screen.

For the fans who grew up with it, it’s nostalgia.

For those discovering it for the first time, it’s a cinematic experiment from another era.

And for everyone in between, it is an invitation to revisit one of Kannada cinema’s most unconventional films.

Originally released: October 22, 1999

Re-release: September 18, 2026

Written & Directed by: Upendra

Cast: Upendra, Raveena Tandon, Prema & Damini

Music: Gurukiran

This September 18, “Naanu” returns to the big screen.

Are you ready to experience Upendra again?

Read more at Prathap Setty