‘WAVES is not just an acronym. It actually is a wave’, PM Modi says at summit inaugural
First of its kind summit in India, WAVES 2025, to see participants from over 90 countries, with more than 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, over 300 companies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai where he emphasised the immense potential of Indian content to drive an economic renaissance.

Addressing an audience that included film celebrities, creators, and business leaders from over 100 countries, PM Modi said India is not just a market for stories but also a powerhouse of storytelling.
The summit hosted over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300 companies, and 350 startups.
“Artists, innovators, investors and policy makers from more than 100 countries have come together under one roof today. In a way, we have laid down the foundation of global talent, global creativity and global ecosystem,” he stressed.
The prime minister said that WAVES is not just an acronym but a real wave.
“Films, music, gaming, animation and storytelling are riding on this wave. Right from the first moment, the summit began to roar. It has attracted the world’s attention in its very first summit. More such beautiful waves are about to come,” PM Modi noted.
Pointing to India’s march to becoming the third largest economy in the world, he said, “Our time has just started. We have a lot to offer. This is the rising time of the orange economy of India and content, creativity, and culture are the pivots of the orange economy. The Indian movies are reaching all corners of the world,” he said adding, “The Indian movies are being released in more than 100 countries”.
Highlighting the importance of art, music, and human emotion in an increasingly technological era, PM Modi said, “In the age of AI and automation, our sensitivity, imagination, and cultural expression is what that makes us truly human — and truly global.”
Modi also announced WAVES Awards, which he described as the world’s premier recognition platform for creativity and storytelling.
“In future, waves awards will be launched which will be the most prestigious awards in arts and creativity world”, he said.
ABOUT THE AUTHORFaisal MalikFaisal Malik is a senior journalist with over two and a half decades of experience covering Maharashtra’s politics, governance and public policy with a deep understanding of the state’s political landscape. He is a Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times and has been associated with its Mumbai edition for more than a decade. Based in Mumbai, Faisal currently covers three major political parties in Maharashtra — Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and NCP (Sharad Pawar). Over the years, he has extensively reported on major political developments, combining investigative insights with in-depth field reporting. His coverage has spanned a wide range of issues, from drought, farmer suicides, major development projects and grassroots challenges to major electoral battles, including three Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections — 2014, 2019 and 2024. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with ‘The Asian Age’ and ‘Dainik Bhaskar’. An avid tea enthusiast, he enjoys reading history, Urdu literature and classical poetry. When away from the newsroom, he writes Urdu poetry inspired by human emotions, life's experiences, meaningful reflections and relationships. An amateur photographer, Faisal is passionate about capturing moments that often go unnoticed by the naked eye.Read More

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