Prime Minister Inaugurates World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit in Mumbai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first edition of the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai on May 1, marking a significant push toward globalizing India’s media and entertainment sector. With speakers from over 100 countries and stakeholders across entertainment, animation, gaming, and OTT, WAVES aims to position India as a creative powerhouse on the global stage.
Highlights:
WAVES 2025 launched at Jio World Centre, Mumbai.
Attended by global stakeholders in entertainment, gaming, and animation.
Emphasis on transforming India into a global audio-visual hub.
India Embarks on the Orange Economy Journey
In a powerful pitch for India’s soft power, PM Modi highlighted the rise of the ‘Orange Economy’, referring to the creative and cultural sectors such as film, music, food, and storytelling. “It is the beginning of the orange economy in India. Indian films’ reach is across the world,” he said. He underscored India’s expanding global footprint in cinema, food, and music, which can serve as a foundation for massive economic and cultural influence.
Highlights:
Orange Economy seen as a new growth frontier for India.
Indian cinema, music, and food gaining global popularity.
India’s cultural exports poised to boost soft power and GDP.
India’s Economic Rise and the Power of Stories
PM Modi spoke at length about India’s economic trajectory, asserting that the country is on track to become the third-largest economy globally. He described the current transformation as just the beginning of “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India), backed by India’s leadership in fintech, mobile manufacturing, and startups. He emphasized the role of India’s population not just as consumers but as storytellers. “Along with a billion-plus population, it is also a land of billion-plus stories,” he said.
Highlights:
India to soon become world’s third-largest economy.
Leads in fintech adoption, mobile manufacturing, and startup ecosystem.
India is a repository of untold narratives waiting to be shared globally.
Youth-Led Creative Renaissance
PM Modi hailed the creativity of India’s youth, especially in the domains of gaming, animation, reels, and podcasts. He called WAVES a platform built for the young generation, enabling them to redefine the entertainment industry. “Youth don’t have any baggage in their creativity. It is free-flowing,” he remarked, citing his personal engagement with content creators on social media.
Highlights:
Indian youth driving innovation in gaming, animation, and digital content.
WAVES designed to foster youth-led creative disruption.
PM Modi actively follows content creators across platforms.
Democratization of Recognition: People’s Padma Awards
The Prime Minister also pointed to how India has democratized recognition in arts and culture, citing the transformation of Padma awards into “People’s Padma Awards.” He reiterated that WAVES would serve as a platform for showcasing talent in music, gaming, and animation from all corners of India, extending inclusivity and exposure beyond traditional media hubs.
Highlights:
Padma Awards now a people’s recognition platform.
WAVES to unearth and elevate regional and grassroots talent.
Focus on inclusivity across cultural and creative domains.
A Wave of Culture, Creativity, and Universal Connect
Describing WAVES as more than just an acronym, Modi referred to it as a “wave of culture, creativity and universal connect.” He said the summit brings together not just content but an entire creative ecosystem — from policy makers to investors, and from creators to innovators — under one roof to drive global storytelling and AI-powered entertainment solutions.
Highlights:
WAVES symbolizes a creative renaissance and global cultural exchange.
Includes participants from over 100 countries.
Aims to unite policy, creativity, innovation, and investment.
OTT’s Exponential Growth and Digital Transformation
Addressing the digital transformation in India’s entertainment industry, PM Modi emphasized the rise of OTT platforms, stating, “OTT has grown 10X in India in the recent years. Screen size is small but scope is huge.” He acknowledged the powerful potential of micro-screens to bring macro-level change, with significant audience engagement and global distribution.
Highlights:
OTT industry in India has grown 10X in recent years.
Smaller screens translating into major economic impact.
Strong potential for domestic content to go global.
Telling India’s 1 Billion Untold Stories
Encouraging storytellers across the country, Modi made a direct appeal to India’s creators: “Tell your 1 billion untold stories to the world.” He asserted that the WAVES platform should enable diverse Indian narratives to reach global audiences, reinforcing India’s storytelling legacy in areas including science, sports, and culture.
Highlights:
Focus on diversifying and globalizing Indian narratives.
WAVES as a channel for grassroots storytelling.
India’s stories positioned as globally relevant and timeless.
Celebrating 112 Years of Indian Cinema
Marking a historic moment, PM Modi noted that India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra, was released 112 years ago on May 1. He traced the evolution of Indian cinema from Raj Kapoor’s popularity in Russia to Satyajit Ray’s acclaim at Cannes and the recent global triumphs like RRR at the Oscars, reinforcing India’s cultural resonance worldwide.
Highlights:
112th anniversary of Raja Harishchandra, India’s first film.
Indian cinema continues to capture international acclaim.
Legacy from Ray to RRR celebrated on global stages.
India’s Rich Treasure of Stories and Animation Opportunity
Modi called India a “land of a billion-plus stories,” reiterating the global appetite for compelling and thought-provoking storytelling rooted in Indian tradition and modernity. He also highlighted the $430 billion global animation industry, which is expected to double within a decade, and urged India to tap into this segment through its growing VFX and animation capabilities.
Highlights:
India holds a deep reservoir of diverse narratives.
Global animation market projected to hit $860 billion.
Opportunity for India’s VFX and animation sectors to lead global growth.
