PM Modi opens WAVES 2025, declares India global stage for creative power

In a moment that marked both ambition and celebration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated WAVES 2025 — the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit — at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre on May 1, heralding a new era for India’s creative and cultural industries on the global stage.

Calling the summit a “global celebration of creativity,” PM Modi addressed a packed auditorium of international delegates, artists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from over 100 countries. “We are laying the foundation for a global ecosystem of talent and creativity,” he declared. “WAVES is a platform that belongs to every artist and creator.”

With the theme “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” the summit aims to transform India into a central hub in the USD 50 billion global creative economy by 2029, encompassing film, OTT platforms, animation, gaming, immersive tech (AVGC-XR), AI, and beyond.

A cultural superpower emerges

PM Modi spotlighted India’s rising cultural influence — from Raj Kapoor’s legacy in Russia to the Oscar-winning phenomenon RRR. “From Guru Dutt’s poetic cinema to AR Rahman’s rhythms and Rajamouli’s epics, Indian storytelling is touching hearts across continents,” he said. “Just as a mother weaves dreams for her child, the creative world weaves the dreams of an era.”

Summit highlights: Global collaboration and innovation

A cornerstone of the event is the inaugural Global Media Dialogue (GMD), bringing ministers and dignitaries from 25 nations to explore cross-border collaboration in content, technology, and policy. This is the first time India is hosting a forum of this scale focused on creative diplomacy.

Another key feature is the WAVES Bazaar — a massive digital marketplace facilitating connections between 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and 2,100 creative projects, offering unmatched networking and business development opportunities.

PM Modi is also set to visit the Creatosphere, a curated showcase of top talent from the "Create in India Challenges," which saw over 100,000 participants. The Bharat Pavilion offers a powerful walkthrough of India’s storytelling traditions and technological innovations.

A star-studded opening

The summit opened with Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan delivering a stirring address, welcoming the global community to India’s creative renaissance. Singer Shreya Ghoshal followed with a soulful performance. The night culminated with a grand concert at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), where a 50-piece live orchestra led by Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravaani set the emotional tone for the days ahead.

Massive industry participation

Spanning four days (May 1–4), WAVES 2025 boasts:

• 42 plenary sessions
• 39 breakout sessions
• 32 masterclasses

Topics range from streaming and broadcasting to immersive media, gaming, comics, and digital entertainment. Over 10,000 delegates, 300+ companies, 350+ startups, and 1,000 creators are participating, including film icons like Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Rajinikanth.

WAVES 2025 isn't just a summit — it's a signal to the world that India is no longer just a consumer of global entertainment, but a defining force shaping the future of storytelling, technology, and cultural diplomacy.