India just hosted its first-ever World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, better known as WAVES 2025, and it’s already turned global heads.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the summit in Mumbai on Thursday, where he called India a “powerhouse of storytelling” and invited the world to tap into the country’s booming creative economy.
This isn’t just another event, it’s massive. The summit has drawn participation from over 90 countries, with more than 10,000 delegates, including 1,000 creators, 300 companies, and 350 startups all under one roof. According to PM Modi, this gathering marks the beginning of a new era of global creative collaboration.
‘WAVES is a movement, not just a name’
Speaking to an audience filled with filmmakers, musicians, artists, investors and policymakers, the Prime Minister said the summit isn’t just about entertainment, it’s a symbol of how India is shaping the global creative space.
He described WAVES as more than an acronym, saying, “It’s a real wave of music, cinema, gaming, animation and storytelling, and it’s just getting started.”
PM Modi added that the summit had already grabbed global attention in its very first edition, and he believes “more beautiful waves” will follow in the years to come.
India’s creative economy: The next big force
The Prime Minister spoke confidently about India’s future as it moves towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy. In his words, this is India’s “rising time”, especially in what he called the orange economy, where content, creativity and culture are the main drivers.
“Our stories are not just being made for India anymore. They are reaching audiences in more than 100 countries,” he said.
Tech meets emotion: A human message in a digital age
While the world races ahead with AI and automation, PM Modi pointed to something deeper, the value of art and emotion.
“In this age of rapid technology, what makes us human, and truly global, is our imagination, sensitivity, and cultural expression,” he said, highlighting why music, cinema, and storytelling matter now more than ever.
Global recognition for Indian creativity
PM Modi also announced the launch of the WAVES Awards, an international platform to honour the best in global arts and storytelling.
“These will soon become the world’s most prestigious awards in the field of creativity,” he said, marking India’s intent to lead not just in technology and trade, but in culture and imagination too
