MUMBAI, May 1 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invited global and domestic creators to treat India as their creative canvas, launching the first-ever World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai with a call for responsible storytelling in a tech-driven world.
“With creativity comes responsibility,” Modi said in his keynote address. “We don’t have to turn humans into robots. We have to make humans sensitive and prosperous, and for that, we must invest in music, art and storytelling—mediums that have preserved human emotions for thousands of years.”
Addressing an audience of global content creators, Indian film icons, composers, industrialists, and policymakers, Modi outlined four key messages:
“To content creators, I say: make Bharat your content playground.
To the creators of the world: dream big and tell your stories.
To investors: invest not just in platforms but in people.
And to the youth of India: tell one billion untold stories.”
The Prime Minister also cautioned against the negative influence of technology on young minds. “We have to protect our young generation from anti-human narratives. If we fail here, it would be lethal for us,” he said.
Reflecting on the exponential growth of India’s OTT sector—nearly tenfold over the past decade—Modi underlined the country’s rising stature on the global economic stage.
“India is becoming the third largest economy, ranks first in fintech adoption, is second in mobile manufacturing, and has the third largest startup ecosystem,” he noted. “Our journey to Viksit Bharat has just begun. This is the right time to create in India.”
The four-day summit, themed “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” aims to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation. WAVES integrates diverse creative sectors including film, OTT, gaming, comics, AVGC-XR, AI, and broadcasting.
The summit opened with a powerful orchestral performance by MM Keeravani and the 30-member ensemble Sutradhar Reinvented, blending classical and contemporary Indian cinematic traditions.
Actor Shah Rukh Khan welcomed dignitaries including Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, S. Jaishankar, L. Murugan, and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
Alongside business and policy dialogues, WAVES Cultural & Concerts is celebrating India’s spirit with performances in kathak, kalaripayattu, folk arts, and cross-cultural collaborations such as King with Alan Walker, and the Dharavi Dream Project with Beatpella House.
International acts include Sri Lanka’s Ves Dance, Egypt’s Al-Tanoura, Malaysia’s Zapin, Mexico’s folk melodies, and Indonesia’s Balinese dances, reinforcing WAVES as a stage for global cultural synergy.
The summit targets unlocking a $50 billion market by 2029, expanding India’s creative economy and storytelling influence on the world stage.
