Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday released commemorative postage stamps in honour of five legendary figures from Indian cinema — filmmaker Guru Dutt, actress P. Bhanumathi, director Raj Khosla, filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak, and music composer Salil Chowdhury, at the World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025.

The PM also inaugurated WAVES 2025 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai on Thursday. In his keynote address, PM Modi reflected on India’s growing cultural influence, citing examples of renowned figures in Indian cinema over the years.

“In recent years, Indian cinema has succeeded in carrying the spirit of India to the farthest corners of the world. From Raj Kapoor’s legacy in Russia to Satyajit Ray’s brilliance at Cannes, and RRR’s triumph at the Oscars, these milestones speak volumes,” said PM Modi.

“Whether it’s Guru Dutt’s poetic cinema, AR Rahman’s musical rhythms, or Rajamouli’s epic storytelling, these narratives have touched the hearts of millions. Just as a mother weaves dreams for her child, the creative world weaves the dreams of an entire era,” he added.

Reflecting on India’s rich cinematic history, PM Modi noted that on May 3, 1913, India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra, was released, directed by pioneering filmmaker Dadasaheb Phalke. He recalled that Phalke’s birth anniversary was celebrated just a day earlier.

Highlighting the impact of Indian cinema over the past century, the Prime Minister emphasized that it has successfully conveyed India’s cultural essence to every corner of the world.