The premier edition of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) concluded on a high note in Mumbai on Sunday, receiving an overwhelming response from exhibitors, industry leaders, startups, policymakers, academia, and the general public.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in an official statement, said the ‘WAVES Bazaar’ initiative alone recorded business transactions worth over ₹1,328 crore, with more than 3,000 business-to-business (B2B) meetings held over three days.
Adding further value to the summit, the Maharashtra government signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth ₹8,000 crore during the event. Among these, MoUs worth ₹1,500 crore each were signed with the University of York and the University of Western Australia. The state’s Industries Department also inked MoUs valued at ₹3,000 crore with Prime Focus and ₹2,000 crore with Godrej, the ministry added.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need for a harmonious blend of technology and tradition, advocating for youth empowerment through skill development and innovation.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw underlined the transformative impact of technology on content creation and the growing need to promote local content, co-production agreements, and joint funding initiatives.
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the four-day summit emerged as a key convergence point for the global media and entertainment ecosystem. It attracted participation from all sectors of the industry — including celebrated artists, influential content creators, tech innovators, and corporate leaders.
With a dynamic mix of exhibitions, panel discussions, and B2B collaborations, WAVES 2025 reaffirmed India’s position as a rising global powerhouse in the media and entertainment domain, the ministry said.
The summit’s ‘Conference Track’ served as a vital forum for dialogue and collaboration, uniting thought leaders, industry pioneers, policymakers, and professionals from around the world. Through a carefully curated series of plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and masterclasses, the summit explored cutting-edge innovations and emerging strategies shaping the industry’s future.
More than 140 sessions featured over 100 international speakers, spread across three main halls (each with a capacity of over 1,000) and five additional halls accommodating 75 to 150 participants. Attendance remained strong throughout, with many sessions operating at full capacity.
The plenary sessions featured more than 50 keynote addresses by eminent personalities such as Ted Sarandos, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Neal Mohan, Shantanu Narayen, Mark Read, and Adam Mosseri, who offered insightful perspectives on the evolving entertainment industry, advertising trends, and digital transformation.
Film icons including Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Hema Malini, Akshay Kumar, Nagarjuna, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Allu Arjun, and Shekhar Kapur — many of whom are members of the WAVES Advisory Board — engaged in thought-provoking discussions on the future of cinema and content creation in the era of virtual production and artificial intelligence.
The summit also featured 40 masterclasses focused on practical learning and creative exploration. Participants gained first-hand industry insights through sessions such as The Art of Acting by Aamir Khan, The Craft of Direction by Farhan Akhtar, and Insights into Filmmaking by Michael Lehmann.
Other sessions delved into behind-the-scenes narratives, including the making of Panchayat by Amazon Prime, designing AR lenses, creating AI avatars, and developing games using generative AI — providing professionals and aspiring creators with actionable tools to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving creative economy.
In addition, 55 breakout sessions were held on specialised themes such as broadcasting, digital media, OTT platforms, AI, music, news, live events, animation, gaming, virtual production, comics, and filmmaking.
A major highlight was the Global Media Dialogue 2025, which saw participation from 77 countries, underscoring India’s pivotal role in the global media and entertainment landscape.
Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan also unveiled five key reports at the summit, offering a comprehensive overview of India’s thriving media and entertainment ecosystem. These reports covered critical areas such as content production, policy frameworks, and the live events sector.
—IANS
