PM Modi at WAVES Summit 2025: Highlights on Digital Content Revolution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai

May 1, 2025 - 12:50

PM Modi at WAVES Summit 2025: Highlights on Digital Content Revolution

At the inaugural WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out an ambitious vision for India’s role as a global creative powerhouse. Marking the twin celebrations of Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day, the summit brought together innovators, artists, policy makers, and investors from over 100 countries to spotlight India's cultural and creative economy.

"Just as the sun paints the morning sky, this summit has begun with a vibrant energy and global purpose," PM Modi remarked, opening his keynote. The Prime Minister called on India’s youth, creators, and global collaborators to harness the power of content, creativity, and culture — what he called the dawn of India’s orange economy.

A Century of Storytelling: From Raja Harishchandra to RRR

Commemorating the birth anniversary of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, PM Modi reflected on the nation’s century-long storytelling journey. From Raj Kapoor’s fame in Russia to Satyajit Ray’s acclaim in Cannes and the recent Oscar success of RRR, Indian cinema has bridged borders and cultures.

He emphasized that “whether it is the poetic lens of Guru Dutt, the social reflection of Ritwik Ghatak, or the global resonance of RRR — each creation is an embodiment of India’s soul.”

WAVES as a Global Creative Hub

Describing the summit as a "platform where creativity meets collaboration," PM Modi highlighted the Creator’s Challenge, which drew participation from over 1 lakh creatives across 60 countries. Among them, 800 finalists were chosen across 32 innovation challenges.

He praised initiatives like the Bharat Pavilion and the Deus Bazaar, which aim to bridge emerging creators with global markets. The summit, according to him, is not just an event — it’s a movement.

From Lullabies to Live Concerts: Creativity Rooted in Culture

Drawing poetic parallels between a mother's lullaby and India's cultural heritage, PM Modi celebrated the deep roots of storytelling, music, and folk traditions across the country.

"India is a nation of over a billion stories, where every mountain hums a song and every river tells a tale."

From Kalidasa’s Abhijnanasakuntalam to Bharat Muni’s Natya Shastra, India’s ancient arts, he said, have shaped global narratives for centuries. Today, WAVES represents a resurgence of this storytelling tradition, reborn through modern formats — podcasts, animation, AR/VR, and gaming.

The Rise of the Orange Economy

Positioning India as a hub for film production, OTT content, animation, and digital design, PM Modi noted that Indian films now release in over 100 countries, and the OTT sector has grown 10x in recent years.

"The screen is becoming micro, but the message is becoming mega."

The global animation industry, currently valued at $430 billion, is expected to double in the next decade. PM Modi urged India’s young creators to seize this moment, whether they are gamers from Bengaluru, musicians from Guwahati, or filmmakers from Punjab.

‘Create in India, Create for the World’

PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to becoming the creative capital of the world. He invited global creators, investors, and artists to join India’s content revolution.

“To creators of the world dream big and tell your story. To investors invest not just in platforms, but in people. To Indian youth tell your one billion untold stories.”

He also announced the WAVES Awards, envisioned as one of the most prestigious recognitions in the global arts and entertainment ecosystem.

Technology + Tradition: A Vision for the Future

Recognizing the impact of technology on the creative world, PM Modi emphasized the fusion of software and storytelling, coding and creativity, as essential to the next wave of innovation.

The government, he said, is supporting creators through initiatives ranging from Startup India to targeted policies for the AVGC sector (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics). Platforms like WAVES will further amplify Indian talent globally.

A Call for Creative Responsibility

In a sobering yet hopeful message, the Prime Minister called upon the creative community to embrace creative responsibility. In an age of algorithms and automation, he warned against reducing humans to data points.

“We must ensure that humans don’t become robots. We must keep human sensitivity alive through music, art, and culture.”

He emphasized the role of creators in countering anti-human ideologies and building a more compassionate and thoughtful world.

The World Looks to India

PM Modi concluded with a powerful assurance: India is not only ready to tell its own stories — it’s ready to tell the stories of the world. Its cultural openness, hospitality, and diversity position it as a natural content playground for the globe.

As the WAVES Summit sets sail, India's creative future looks brighter than ever. With billions of stories, a booming creator economy, and strong policy support, India is on track to redefine the global entertainment and storytelling landscape.

“This is the right time to Create in India, Create for the World.”