Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, hailing it as a historic moment in India’s rise as a global creative powerhouse. The summit, themed “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” brings together artists, innovators, investors, and policymakers from more than 100 nations, and is set to position India at the heart of the global media and entertainment economy.
Calling WAVES a “wave of culture, connectivity, and universal collaboration,” PM Modi said the summit was not just an event but a movement — one that unites storytellers and creators across borders and offers immense opportunities for economic growth.
“This is the right time to create in India and create for the world,” the Prime Minister said in his keynote address. “Today, we are laying the foundation of a global ecosystem of talent and creativity that transcends borders.”
WAVES 2025 integrates cinema, OTT, gaming, animation, immersive technologies (AVGC-XR), artificial intelligence, digital media, and more, and is expected to unlock a $50 billion opportunity for India’s media and entertainment sector by 2029. The four-day summit will feature over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300 companies, and more than 350 startups.
India: Land of Stories, Sound, and Soul
Addressing a diverse audience, PM Modi spoke of India’s rich storytelling tradition and cultural depth.
“India, with a billion-plus population, is also a land of a billion-plus stories and over a billion storytellers,” he said. “Every street, every river, every mountain in India carries a tale. Across more than six lakh villages, each one holds a new story, a fresh perspective. Truly, India has much more to offer.”
He also emphasized the spiritual nature of Indian art and music, saying, “In India, even music is a form of spiritual practice. Every note tells a story, every rhythm has a soul. Be it a devotional bhajan or a modern composition, the sound of India carries a touch of the divine.”
“As the world seeks stories, India offers a treasure trove — rich in science, fiction, courage, and imagination. Our creative basket is vast and ready to be shared,” he added.
Homage to Indian Cinema and Rise of the Orange Economy
PM Modi paid tribute to India’s cinematic journey by recalling the release of Raja Harishchandra in 1913, the country’s first feature film by Dadasaheb Phalke. He highlighted how Indian cinema has continually expanded India’s cultural influence worldwide — from Raj Kapoor’s enduring popularity in Russia to Satyajit Ray’s acclaim at Cannes, and more recently, the international success of RRR at the Oscars.
“From Guru Dutt’s poetic storytelling to AR Rahman’s soul-stirring music and Rajamouli’s grand narratives, Indian creativity has touched lives far and wide. Like a mother weaving dreams for her child, our artists are weaving the dreams of a generation,” he said.
The Prime Minister also underscored the economic potential of the creative sector, calling this era the dawn of India’s “Orange Economy,” a term used to describe the creative and cultural industries.
“We are witnessing the sunrise of the Orange Economy in India — built on the pillars of content, creativity, and culture,” he said. “India is rapidly emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music, and live performances. In the coming years, the creative economy can significantly boost India’s GDP.”
Global Engagement and Opportunities
WAVES 2025 marks the debut of the Global Media Dialogue (GMD), with ministers and dignitaries from 25 countries discussing ways to foster cross-border collaboration in media and entertainment. The summit also features the WAVES Bazaar, a digital marketplace hosting over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and 2,100 creative projects.
PM Modi will also visit the Creatosphere, showcasing talent from the 32 “Create in India Challenges” launched a year ago, which drew over one lakh entries. He will tour the Bharat Pavilion as well — a curated space celebrating India’s storytelling traditions and its growing role in digital innovation.
“To the creators of the world, I say — dream big and tell your stories. To investors, I say — invest not just in platforms, but in people. To our youth, I say — the world is waiting for your stories. This is a big opportunity for India’s creative economy,” PM Modi said.
A Star-Studded Start
The summit’s opening evening was marked by cultural vibrance and global fanfare. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan delivered a welcome address to the international audience, while singer Shreya Ghoshal mesmerized the crowd with a soulful performance. At the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), a 50-piece live orchestra led by Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravaani added a powerful musical tribute to India’s creative spirit.
WAVES 2025 will host 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout discussions, and 32 masterclasses, covering themes ranging from OTT and broadcasting to immersive storytelling and future tech in entertainment. Indian film industry luminaries including Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Rajinikanth are among the notable participants.
