Sandeepp Saxena
MUMBAI: In a defining moment for India’s creative economy, the inaugural edition of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai on May 1-4 signalled the beginning of a new era – the one where India is no longer just a content consumer, but a global leader in creation, innovation, and cultural storytelling.
With powerful messages from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, industrialist Mukesh Ambani, and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti, the summit projected a unified national vision: to make India the epicenter of the global entertainment and media industry.
Addressing the summit, PM Modi made a compelling appeal to investors, creators, and stakeholders worldwide to make India their creative playground. He emphasised the potential of India’s creative economy not just as a cultural force but as a key driver of GDP growth. “Content creation is another speciality of India, and now you (people across the globe) will feel the mantra of ‘Create in India’ – and you will enjoy it,” declared PM Modi, highlighting the emotional richness, linguistic diversity, and narrative depth that makes India a treasure trove of storytelling.
Influential address Taking the stage at the Jio World Convention Centre, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani echoed and amplified the Prime Minister’s vision, delivering one of the most influential keynote addresses of the summit. He declared that the global media landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, and India must place itself at the center of that change.
“India is not just a nation – it is a civilisation of stories, where storytelling is a way of life,” said Ambani. “The world’s stage is shifting, and India is in the frame,” he said. TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti emphasised the urgent need for regulatory modernisation to provide a level playing field between traditional and digital broadcasters.
Launchpad for future
The WAVES 2025 summit brought together an illustrious array of global CEOs, studio heads, OTT giants, artists, animators, and policymakers under one roof. With panels on virtual production, cinematic universes, digital monetisation, and the future of storytelling, the summit acted as a launch-pad for India’s creative future.
Workshops and sessions were dedicated to skilling, cross-border co-productions, youth engagement, and India’s ambition to lead in the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) sector. Delegates from over 30 countries participated, reflecting growing global interest in India’s creative boom.
