In a landmark moment for India’s media and entertainment sector, the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) will be inaugurated today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The four-day event, starting from today till 4 May, is a joint initiative by the Central Government and the Maharashtra State Government and is poised to redefine India’s global standing in content creation, storytelling, and entertainment technology.
What is WAVES 2025?
WAVES 2025 is an international summit dedicated to celebrating innovation and fostering collaboration across the media and entertainment sectors. Jointly organised by the Central and Maharashtra state governments, the event will bring together professionals from broadcasting, film, animation, gaming, music, and digital media. Key initiatives include the WAVES Bazaar for investment opportunities, the WAVES Accelerator to support new innovations, and Creatosphere, a space for idea exchange and collaboration.
More than a showcase, the summit is a strategic effort to position India as a global powerhouse in media and entertainment, with a vision to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029.
Spread across 15,000 square meters, WAVES 2025 is the largest summit of its kind in Asia, hosting over 100 exhibitors from across the globe. The event draws together an impressive mix of creative minds, industry titans, and policy leaders, fostering partnerships across film, gaming, OTT, music, digital advertising, animation, and immersive tech.
Among the most anticipated sessions is the keynote address by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, titled “Building the Next Global Entertainment Revolution from India.” Scheduled for today, Ambani’s address is expected to lay out a roadmap for India’s rise as a content-rich, tech-forward entertainment leader. His presence reflects the summit’s gravitas and ambition, as does the participation of international tech luminaries including Ted Sarandos (Co-CEO, Netflix), Neal Mohan (CEO, YouTube), and Adam Mosseri (Head, Instagram).
The summit’s glittering guest list also includes Bollywood’s biggest stars, such as Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Karan Johar, Allu Arjun, Amitabh Bachchan, and Rajinikanth. Several of them, along with industry leaders like Ekta Kapoor, Anand Mahindra, and Satya Nadella, are members of the WAVES Advisory Board, which convened earlier this year to align India’s creative and technological capabilities with global best practices.
One of the summit’s central attractions is the Bharat Pavilion, a 1,470 square meter installation themed “Kala to Code,” which bridges India’s cultural legacy with its technological future. Divided into four interactive zones, Shruti (sound), Kriti (craft), Drishti (vision), and Creator’s Leap (future technologies), the pavilion explores India’s storytelling evolution from Vedic chants and folk art to AI-driven filmmaking and digital production.
Complementing the national showcase, several Indian states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, and Telangana, have set up pavilions to highlight their local media infrastructure, cultural strengths, and production incentives. These displays aim to attract both domestic creators and global studios to invest in India’s diverse regional content ecosystems.
WAVES 2025 also throws a spotlight on India’s rapidly growing gaming and esports sector. A dedicated arena hosts global players like Microsoft Xbox, Dream11, Nazara, Krafton, and JioGames, reflecting the surging popularity of gaming in India’s youth-dominated digital economy. This segment is expected to reach hundreds of millions of users in the coming years, making it a key part of the entertainment mix.
Another highlight is the WAVES Startup and MSME Zones, which showcase over 750 digital creators and innovators. These participants were shortlisted through 32 national competitions addressing critical industry challenges such as digital piracy, rural media access, ethical AI, and community radio. The summit gives these innovators a platform to pitch to investors, forge partnerships, and build global networks.
While the summit is rich with celebrity panels and entertainment, it is equally focused on problem-solving and innovation. Industry experts are engaging in policy dialogues and think-tank sessions aimed at reimagining India’s media laws, boosting creator monetisation, and making digital entertainment more accessible and inclusive.
India’s media and entertainment sector, valued at Rs 2.5 lakh crore in 2024, has faced significant turbulence post-pandemic. According to the EY-FICCI 2024 report, industry growth slowed to 3.3% from 8.3% the previous year. Traditional sectors like cinema and television are experiencing stagnation, while digital advertising, short-form video, and creator-led commerce have emerged as new growth drivers, expanding by 17% last year and accounting for 55% of total ad spend.
Open to the public on May 3 and 4, WAVES 2025 invites students, content creators, entrepreneurs, and the general public to experience the summit firsthand. Tickets are priced affordably, starting at Rs 99, with registration available through wavesindia.org.
In a world hungry for original content and digital innovation, WAVES 2025 is more than a summit, it is a statement. A statement that India is not only ready to participate in the global creative economy but lead it, combining ancient wisdom with modern tools, and tradition with transformation.