Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 117th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on December 29 announced that India for the first time will host World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) from 5-9 February 2025. It is a major milestone for India’s creative and entertainment sector.
The Prime Minister’s initiative underscores the government’s commitment of nurturing India’s creative economy and strengthening its position as a global leader in media and entertainment as the WAVES Summit is expected to serve as a global platform for India’s creative talent, foster collaborations, and showcase the country’s potential as a nexus of high-quality world-class content creation. It would also be accentuating India’s advancements in animation, gaming, entertainment technology, and regional and mainstream cinema.
Comparing the WAVES Summit with Davos where the world’s economic giants gather PM Modi emphasised the Summit as a crucial move to make India a ‘hub of global content creation’. He called it a great opportunity to showcase India’s creative talent to the world and updated about the congregation of giants from the media and entertainment industry along with creative minds from across the globe.
Urging everyone in the entertainment and creative industries to participate in the Summit, he said, “Whether you are a young creator or an established artist, associated with Bollywood or regional cinema, a professional from the TV industry, an expert in animation, gaming, or an innovator in entertainment technology, I encourage you to be a part of the WAVE Summit”
He reflected on the dynamic spirit of India’s creative community by highlighting the vital role played by the young creators in the preparations for WAVES. He conveyed pride in the zeal of the country’s youth and their contribution to the blooming creator economy which he stresses to be a leading force for India advancing towards a $5 trillion economy.
The Prime Minister also paid a heartfelt tribute to several iconic figures of Indian cinema whose 100th birth anniversary was celebrated in 2024. He emphasized the role played by Raj Kapoor, Mohammed Rafi, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and Tapan Sinha who strengthened India’s cultural heritage and shaped the the golden era of indian cinema.
