Key Points
- Historic Event: PM Narendra Modi inaugurates the first-ever World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, May 1–4.
- Global Participation: Over 1,100 international delegates, 100,000+ registrations, and representatives from 130 countries attend.
- Industry Powerhouses: 100+ major exhibitors, including Netflix, Amazon, Meta, Sony, and top Indian studios, join the summit.
- Star-Studded Lineup: Bollywood icons like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Deepika Padukone, and global tech leaders participate.
- Innovation Focus: The summit features AI-powered Ramayana, cutting-edge gaming arena, and immersive experiences blending tradition with technology.
- Sectoral Coverage: 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakouts, 32 masterclasses cover broadcasting, AVGC-XR, digital media, films, and more.
Mumbai: Mumbai has become the epicenter of the global media and entertainment industry as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) at the Jio World Convention Centre on May 1. The four-day mega event, running until May 4, marks a watershed moment for India’s creative economy, aiming to position the country as a global hub for content creation, innovation, and digital storytelling.
A Global Gathering of Media Titans and Innovators
WAVES 2025 is the largest and most ambitious media summit ever hosted in India, attracting over 1,100 international delegates and more than 100,000 participants. Media giants like Netflix, Amazon, Meta, Google, Sony, Reliance, and Tata share the stage with Indian powerhouses such as Yash Raj Films, Dharma Productions, and Saregama. The event brings together creators, investors, technology pioneers, and policymakers from 130 countries, fostering unprecedented cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Bollywood Royalty and Global Tech Leaders Share the Spotlight
The summit’s star-studded guest list includes Bollywood legends Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth, Deepika Padukone, Hema Malini, Mohanlal, Chiranjeevi, and Akshay Kumar, alongside global tech leaders like Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella. The opening ceremony featured a stirring invocation by Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravaani and a 30-member orchestra, followed by ‘Sutradhar Reinvented’-an immersive narrative journey into Indian cinema, voiced by Sharad Kelkar.
Showcasing India’s Creative Strength: From ‘Kala to Code’
At the heart of WAVES 2025 is the Bharat Pavilion, a 1,470 sq m experiential space tracing India’s storytelling journey from ancient oral traditions to AI-powered visual arts. The summit’s theme, “Creation in India, Creation for the World,” underscores India’s ambition to lead in both traditional and next-gen digital content.
- State Pavilions: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh highlight their unique creative industries and cultural assets.
- MSME & Start-Up Booths: Emerging businesses and innovators in the media and entertainment sector get a platform to connect with investors and industry leaders.
- Gaming Arena: Featuring Microsoft, Xbox, Dream11, Krafton, Nazara, MPL, and JioGames, the arena spotlights India’s explosive growth in gaming and esports.
Cutting-Edge Discussions and Immersive Experiences
WAVES 2025 hosts 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses, delving into topics like:
- Regulating broadcasting in the digital age
- Copyright for audio-visual creators
- The impact of AI, AR, VR, and XR on content creation
- The future of infotainment, animation, gaming, and digital media
The Creatosphere, a centerpiece of the summit, features curated zones for virtual reality, animation, films, gaming, comics, music, and more. PM Modi will also interact with young innovators and present awards to winners of 31 ‘Create In’ challenges, celebrating the best in global creativity and technology.
A Vision for the Future
WAVES 2025 is modeled after the World Economic Forum at Davos, aiming to establish India as a world leader in media, entertainment, and digital innovation. The summit not only celebrates India’s rich storytelling legacy but also sets the stage for the next era of global media collaboration, technological advancement, and creative entrepreneurship.
WAVES 2025, inaugurated by PM Modi, is set to transform Mumbai into the global capital of media and entertainment for four days. With participation from industry giants, Bollywood icons, and tech innovators, the summit highlights India’s emergence as a creative superpower-blending tradition with technology and setting new benchmarks for the world’s entertainment industry.
