India: A Rising Hub for Global Creativity and Cultural Exchange

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the WAVES Summit, highlighting India’s potential as a global hub for creativity and culture. He urged global companies to produce content in India, emphasizing inclusivity and the booming "orange economy." The event showcased India’s rich artistic legacy, with leaders like Mukesh Ambani and Rajinikanth praising its significance. Industry growth, valued at $28 billion and projected to hit $100 billion, underscores India’s creative potential. WAVES united global talent, celebrating India’s role in shaping narratives worldwide.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently made a compelling case for India as a global creative powerhouse, urging international companies to produce content in the country. Speaking at the inauguration of the WAVES (World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit) at Mumbai’s Jio World Centre, he emphasized India's unique cultural ethos of inclusivity and respect for diversity as a strong foundation for the creative economy.

“This is the perfect time for ‘create in India, create for the world,’” said the Prime Minister. “Global content will find respect here, and anyone who comes to India will naturally connect with its vibrant culture. India is becoming an orange economy,” he added, referencing the creative economy, which leverages creativity, culture, and intellectual property to generate economic growth and employment.

A Growing Creative Economy

The Prime Minister highlighted the global reach of Indian content, with foreign audiences consuming Indian entertainment, often with subtitles. He praised content creators for driving a new wave of creativity in the country and assured them of the government's support, while urging them to prioritize responsible storytelling. “Our aim is to enrich humanity, not turn people into robots,” he remarked, stressing the importance of sensitivity in creative endeavors.

The WAVES Summit, which brings together leading figures from the media and entertainment industries across 90 countries, served as a fitting platform for this vision. Prominent attendees included legendary actor Rajinikanth and Reliance Industries CEO Mukesh Ambani. Both paid homage to the victims of a recent terror attack in Pahalgam while commending the government for its determination to hold the event as planned.

Celebrating India’s Creative Legacy

Superstar Rajinikanth expressed his admiration for the Prime Minister, saying, “Many thought the event would be postponed due to its focus on entertainment, but I was confident it would proceed. The Prime Minister is a fighter, and I wholeheartedly support this initiative.”

Mr. Modi unveiled plans for the WAVES Awards, which will celebrate India’s rich storytelling tradition. “India is a treasure trove of stories, spanning science fiction, courage, and human emotion. Our responsibility is to share this treasure with the world,” he said.

He also reflected on India’s artistic legacy, dating back over 2,000 years to Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra, a seminal work on the arts. “The global creative community has united under one roof at WAVES, laying the foundation for a truly interconnected artistic world,” the Prime Minister noted, emphasizing the role of Indian cinema in shaping global narratives.

The Economic Potential of Creativity

Mukesh Ambani pointed to the rapid growth of India’s entertainment industry, currently valued at $28 billion and projected to reach $100 billion in the near future. “Let the stories flow, let the WAVES rise,” he said, underscoring the industry’s potential to drive economic growth.

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen added that India’s creative economy could soon rival its software sector in employment generation, with a focus on empowering educators and students. “With unmatched talent, India’s creative economy is poised for a boom,” he said, committing to initiatives aimed at taking Indian creativity to a global audience.

Honoring Art and Culture

The summit opened with a musical performance by Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keeravani, celebrating India’s spiritual and cultural diversity. Prime Minister Modi also marked the occasion of Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Statehood Day by addressing the audience in Marathi and Gujarati.

Reflecting on Indian cinema’s global impact, he cited examples such as Raj Kapoor’s popularity in Russia, Satyajit Ray’s recognition at Cannes, and the Oscar-winning success of RRR. He also paid tribute to luminaries like Guru Dutt, Ritwik Ghatak, A.R. Rahman, and S.S. Rajamouli for their contributions to global storytelling.

A Platform for Global Collaboration

With representatives from over 100 countries, the WAVES Summit features more than 100 sessions focusing on innovation, creativity, and collaboration in the media and entertainment industries. The event underscores India’s burgeoning role as a hub for cultural exchange and global creativity.

As India continues to shape global narratives, WAVES stands as a testament to the country’s creative strength and its potential to inspire and connect the world.