Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated WAVES 2025, India’s first-of-its-kind World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai. Addressing a distinguished audience of global dignitaries, artists, investors, and policymakers, the Prime Minister extended greetings on the occasion of Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Statehood Day.Highlighting the significance of the gathering, PM Modi noted that representatives from over 100 countries have convened to lay the foundation of a global ecosystem for talent and creativity. “WAVES is not just an acronym—it represents a cultural surge of creativity and connectivity,” he remarked, calling the summit a global platform for films, music, gaming, animation, and storytelling.
Honouring a Century of Indian Cinema
Reflecting on India’s cinematic journey, the Prime Minister noted that on May 3, 1913, Raja Harishchandra, India’s first feature film directed by Dadasaheb Phalke, was released. He observed that Phalke’s birth anniversary had just been commemorated. Shri Modi lauded the global impact of Indian cinema—from Raj Kapoor’s acclaim in Russia to Satyajit Ray’s recognition at Cannes, and the Oscar-winning success of RRR. He also paid tribute to legendary figures such as Guru Dutt, Ritwik Ghatak, A.R. Rahman, and S.S. Rajamouli, all of whom have carried India’s cultural heritage to the world stage. Commemorative postage stamps were issued in their honour, he added.
Creative Power and Global Collaboration
The Prime Minister emphasized India’s growing creative capabilities and its potential for global collaboration. Recalling the Gandhi One Fifty initiative during Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, where singers from 150 countries performed Vaishnav Jan To, he underscored how creativity can foster global harmony.He praised the successful launch of WAVES, which he described as “roaring with purpose.” With over 100,000 participants from 60 countries in the Creators Challenge and Creatosphere initiatives, 800 finalists were selected across 32 challenges. “These creators now stand at the threshold of global opportunity,” he said.
Platforms for Innovation and Growth
Modi commended initiatives like the Bharat Pavilion and WAVES Bazaar, highlighting their role in promoting innovation, supporting new creators, and fostering connections between buyers and sellers in the creative economy. He called the WAVES platform a convergence of art and technology—“where creativity meets coding, and storytelling merges with software.”
India’s Cultural and Spiritual Heritage
Drawing on India’s rich cultural legacy, PM Modi said that “every street has a story, every mountain carries a song, and every river hums a tune.” He invoked the concept of Naad Brahma, or divine sound, noting how Indian mythology expresses divinity through music—from Shiva’s Damru to Krishna’s Flute. The Prime Minister reiterated the mantra: Create in India, Create for the World, and called India’s stories “Timeless, Thought-Provoking, and Truly Global.”He likened the summit’s vision to the spirit of the People’s Padma awards—bringing recognition to talent from the remotest parts of India and celebrating them on a global stage.
India as a Global Creative Hub
Stressing India’s rapid economic ascent, the Prime Minister noted that the country is poised to become the world’s third-largest economy. India is already leading in fintech adoption, ranks second in mobile manufacturing, and has the third-largest startup ecosystem. “India is not just a billion-plus people, it is a billion-plus stories,” he remarked.PM Modi urged global creators to explore India’s storytelling tradition, noting that Indian films are now watched in over 100 countries. With the OTT sector seeing tenfold growth and Indian cuisine gaining global popularity, he predicted Indian music would soon see similar international acclaim.
Supporting the Creative Economy
Recognizing the vast potential of India’s creative economy, PM Modi stated that it will be a major contributor to India’s GDP in the coming years. He noted opportunities in film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, and live concerts. The global animation industry, currently valued at over $430 billion, offers vast potential for Indian creators, he added.Calling upon young creators across India—from musicians in Guwahati to game designers in Bengaluru—the Prime Minister emphasized government support through Skill India, startup incentives, and dedicated AVGC policies. WAVES, he noted, is a platform to empower creators, merge art with augmented reality, and amplify Indian innovation.
A Call for Creative Responsibility
Addressing the ethical dimensions of creativity in a tech-driven age, Shri Modi urged content creators to uphold emotional depth and cultural richness. “The goal is not to create robots but to nurture compassionate, culturally rooted individuals,” he said. He encouraged artists to preserve traditions while protecting future generations from harmful ideologies, stating that WAVES can become a beacon for cultural integrity.
Bridging the World through Creativity
Emphasizing technology’s transformative power, PM Modi invited international creators and investors to see India as their creative playground. He encouraged global collaborations between Indian creators and international storytellers. “Invest not just in platforms, but in people,” he said, calling on India’s youth to share the country’s one billion untold stories with the world. The event was also attended by Governor of Maharashtra C. P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Dr. L. Murugan, along with other dignitaries.
Background
WAVES 2025, themed “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” is a four-day global summit positioning India as a hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation. It features integration across films, OTT, gaming, comics, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting, and emerging tech. The summit aims to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029 and marks the first time India is hosting the Global Media Dialogue with participation from 25 countries. WAVES Bazaar—a global e-marketplace—features over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and 2,100 projects. With participation from 90+ countries, 10,000+ delegates, 1,000 creators, and over 350 startups, WAVES 2025 includes 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout discussions, and 32 masterclasses covering all segments of the entertainment ecosystem