PM Modi Announces WAVES Awards - Key Highlights from the Summit
On May 1st, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the four-day World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. During his address, PM Modi highlighted that more than 100 countries were represented by artists, innovators, investors, and policymakers, all coming together under one roof. He described the event as a foundation being laid for a global ecosystem of creativity and global talent, calling it a 'wave' that every artist and creator could be a part of.
PM Modi also took a moment to reflect on the historical significance of the date, noting that 112 years ago, on May 3rd, 1913, the first feature film in India, Raja Harishchandra, was released. He acknowledged the contribution of Dadasaheb Phalke in shaping the Indian cinema industry and celebrated the global reach of Indian cinema, mentioning its role in bringing India's culture to audiences worldwide.
The summit saw the participation of major stars from Bollywood including Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar, Hema Malini, Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Sara Ali Khan, Kartik Aryan, Jackie Shroff, Shahid Kapoor, Mira Rajput, and Bobby Deol, among others. South Indian cinema legends like Chiranjeevi, Rajinikanth, SS Rajamouli, and Mohanlal were also in attendance.
PM Modi highlighted that Indian cinema has taken India’s stories to every corner of the globe, and that it has been successful in creating a global presence. He cited the popularity of Raj Kapoor in Russia, Satyajit Ray in Cannes, and the success of RRR at the Oscars as examples of Indian cinema’s global impact.
Drawing a parallel between a mother’s lullaby to a child and the creative world’s role in weaving dreams, PM Modi emphasized the power of storytelling in India, with each village, mountain, and river in India having its own story to tell. Music, he noted, is a form of spiritual practice in India, and every note and rhythm carries a story.
He went on to talk about the rise of India's Orange Economy, which is built on three pillars: Content, Creativity, and Culture. He noted that Indian films are now released in more than 100 countries, and foreign audiences are not just watching these films casually, but are engaging with them more deeply. The OTT industry in India has seen exponential growth in recent years, increasing by ten times, and while screen sizes may be shrinking, the scope for creative content remains limitless.