Mumbai, May 1: Celebrated lyricist and CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership during the inaugural session of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, asserting that India now possesses a global creative platform of its own.
Speaking at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Joshi said, “Such an event could only be made possible due to the vision and spirit of our Prime Minister. Others dream of such initiatives, but he makes them happen.” He highlighted how WAVES eliminates the need for Indian creators to look overseas for platforms like Cannes or Davos. “Now, our creators can tell their stories to the world, from here,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the event, calling it a “historic milestone” that unites creators, innovators, and policymakers from over 90 countries. Emphasizing India’s storytelling richness, he said, “India, with a billion-plus population, is also a land of a billion-plus stories… Every street, every river, every mountain in India carries a tale.”
He described Indian music as spiritual in nature, saying, “Every note tells a story, every rhythm has a soul… the sound of India carries a touch of the divine.” Modi invited global creators to collaborate, encouraging them to “Create in India, and Create for the World.”
The four-day summit, themed “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” is India’s first major global gathering for the audio-visual, media, and entertainment sectors. It hosts over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, and representation from 300 companies and 350 startups.
Key features include the Global Media Dialogue (GMD) with ministerial participation from 25 nations, and the WAVES Bazaar, an e-marketplace with 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and 2,100 creative projects.
PM Modi will also visit the Creatosphere, showcasing top talents from the “Create in India” challenges, and the Bharat Pavilion, dedicated to Indian art and innovation.
The event’s opening ceremony at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre featured a 50-piece orchestra conducted by MM Keeravaani and a performance by Shreya Ghoshal. Shah Rukh Khan welcomed global delegates on stage alongside Bollywood icons including Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, Rajinikanth, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone.