On May 1, 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated WAVES 2025—India’s first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit—at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. Extending greetings on the occasion of Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Statehood Day, he warmly welcomed international dignitaries, ambassadors and creative industry leaders attending the event.
In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of this landmark gathering, noting the participation of artists, innovators, investors and policymakers from over 100 countries. He emphasized that WAVES is more than just an acronym—it symbolizes a dynamic wave of culture, creativity and global connection. The summit, he said, celebrates the vast domains of film, music, animation, gaming and storytelling, offering a powerful platform for international collaboration and creative exchange. Congratulating all participants, Narendra Modi expressed pride in hosting such a significant event and welcomed the global creative community to unite in shaping a shared future of innovation and expression.
At the inaugural WAVES Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated India’s rich cinematic and creative heritage, recalling the release of Raja Harishchandra in 1913 by Dadasaheb Phalke and highlighting Indian cinema’s global influence—from Raj Kapoor in Russia to Satyajit Ray at Cannes and the Oscar-winning success of RRR. He praised legendary figures like Guru Dutt, Ritwik Ghatak, A.R. Rahman and S.S. Rajamouli for bringing Indian culture to life globally. The Prime Minister emphasized the growing role of India’s creative sector in shaping global narratives and recognized the contributions of the industry through initiatives like commemorative postage stamps.
He reflected on India’s global artistic collaborations, citing the Vaishnav Jan To performance by artists from 150 countries during Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. Narendra Modi applauded the success of the WAVES Summit, its Creators Challenge and Creatosphere, which drew 100,000 participants from 60 countries, selecting 800 finalists. He emphasized the importance of platforms like WAVES and the WAVES Bazaar in promoting creative talent and supporting the creative economy.
Highlighting India’s deep cultural roots, Narendra Modi referenced ancient texts like Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra and Kalidasa’s Abhijnana-Shakuntalam, showcasing India’s enduring storytelling legacy. He described music as spiritually significant and linked it to Indian mythology, mentioning the divine instruments of deities as symbols of creativity and positive energy.
He called WAVES a reflection of India’s civilizational openness and invited global creators to engage with India’s narratives, emphasizing the emotional and universal appeal of Indian stories. Citing India’s leadership in fintech, mobile manufacturing and startups, the Prime Minister envisioned the country as a global hub for film, digital content, gaming and animation. He declared that the Orange Economy—centered on content, creativity and culture—would play a key role in India’s growth.
PM Modi encouraged young creators from across India to dream big, supported by Government initiatives like Skill India and AVGC policies. He stressed the importance of creative responsibility in the tech era, warning against emotional desensitization and urging creators to preserve cultural and human values through art. Concluding, Narendra Modi positioned WAVES as a platform for global collaboration, storytelling and innovation, inviting the world to invest in India’s vibrant creative ecosystem.
Background
WAVES 2025, a four-day global summit themed: “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” aims to establish India as a leading hub for media, entertainment and digital innovation. The event brings together creators, startups, industry leaders and policymakers from around the world to showcase and strengthen India’s growing influence in the global creative economy.
Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of harnessing creativity, technology and talent to build a better future, WAVES 2025 features a comprehensive mix of sectors including films, OTT platforms, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality), broadcasting and other emerging technologies. The summit aspires to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029, thereby expanding India’s presence in the international entertainment and media landscape.
A key highlight of WAVES 2025 is the inaugural Global Media Dialogue (GMD), with ministerial representation from 25 countries—signifying India’s increasing global engagement in the media domain. The summit will also host the WAVES Bazaar, a digital marketplace featuring over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers and 2,100 creative projects.
With participation from more than 90 countries, the event expects over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies and 350+ startups. The summit includes 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout discussions and 32 masterclasses across a wide spectrum of creative and tech-driven sectors.
