On May 1, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai. The event saw participation from film industry figures and digital content creators across India. In his address, PM Modi spoke about the growing influence of Indian content and the vital role content creators can play in boosting the country’s economy. He also introduced the upcoming WAVES Awards as part of future plans. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) described WAVES 2025 as a first-of-its-kind event in India, featuring a packed schedule with 42 plenary discussions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 expert-led masterclasses, spanning fields like broadcasting, films, infotainment, digital media, and AVGC-XR.

PM Modi made striking remarks at the event. Here are Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s notable mentions from the event.

He said the journey of Viksit Bharat has just started. “India will soon become the world’s third-largest economy. India is already number one in global fintech adoption rate. It’s the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturer. India is the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. Viksit Bharat’s journey has only started. The country has a lot to offer. Along with a billion-plus population, it is also a land of billion-plus stories,” PM Modi conveyed.

India is home to a treasure of stories. “India is a land of a billion-plus stories. When the world is looking for new ways of storytelling, India has a history of stories which is timeless and thought-provoking. And it is not just about culture; it is about science, sports and more. This treasure should be taken to the world, and it is the responsibility of the WAVE platform,” he expressed. He also encouraged Indian youth, saying, “Tell your one billion untold stories to the world.”

Regarding India’s growing influence, PM Modi mentioned, “It is the beginning of the orange economy in India. Indian films’ reach is across the world.” He pointed out, “India’s food is getting popular across the world. And I know, India’s music too will gain popularity around the world,”

“Youth don’t have any baggage in their creativity. It is free-flowing. I have met gamers and other creators. I follow the work of creators on social media. Reels, podcasts, animation - our young minds are doing good work in these formats. WAVES is for the young generation. WAVES will help the youth redefine the entertainment industry,” PM Modi stated. 

PM Modi said that his government has transformed the Padma awards into the “People’s Padma Awards.” He also mentioned, “WAVES will give a platform to the talent from across India in music, gaming and animation.” “Artists, innovators, investors, and policy makers from over 100 countries have gathered here. WAVES is not just an acronym. It actually is a wave. It is a wave of culture, creativity, and universal connect. On this wave are riding films, animation, gaming, and the whole universe of creativity. Every creator can join the creative world with a new idea,” PM Modi continued.

PM Modi mentioned that the OTT sector has expanded dramatically in recent years. “OTT has grown 10x in India in recent years. Screen size is small, but the scope is huge. Screen is micro but growth is significant,” he said.