Amid the glitz of Bollywood stars and global tech CEOs at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025), a quiet yet powerful story of regional talent is emerging from India’s Northeast. Hirak Jyoti Nath, a young animator from Assam, has become a beacon of inspiration at the Jio World Convention Centre, where his short film ‘Tales From the Tea House’ is a finalist in the Animation Filmmakers Competition (AFC), part of the summit’s ‘Create in India Challenge.’ WAVES 2025, running from May 1-4, aims to position India as a global creative hub.

The backstory

Hirak Jyoti Nath, hailing from a small town in Assam, grew up surrounded by the lush tea gardens and rich oral traditions of the Northeast. With limited access to advanced animation tools or formal training, Nath taught himself the craft through online tutorials and sheer determination. His short film, Tales From the Tea House, is a 7-minute animation gem that weaves Assamese folktales into a visually stunning narrative, blending 2D animation with subtle 3D elements. The film captures the mystical allure of Assam’s tea estates, where spirits and storytellers converge in a quaint tea house, passing down tales of love, loss, and resilience.

Nath’s entry stood out among 85,000 participants in the ‘Create in India Challenge,’ which included 1,100 international submissions across 32 creative contests. His selection as one of 42 animation finalists (18 short films, 12 feature films, 9 TV series, and 3 AR/VR projects) earned him a coveted spot at WAVES’ Creatosphere, a dedicated space for masterclasses, workshops, and the grand finale of the challenge.

The WAVES 2025 stage

WAVES 2025, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 1 at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre. It is a first-of-its-kind global summit uniting over 10,000 delegates from 90+ countries, including 1,000 creators, 350 startups, and industry giants like Netflix, Adobe, and Reliance. Organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with FICCI and the ‘Create in India Challenge,’ the summit features 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses, covering films, OTT, gaming, comics, AI, AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Extended Reality), and digital media.

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The Animation Filmmakers Competition, where Nath’s work is showcased, is a highlight of the Creatosphere. This platform not only displays finalist projects but also connects creators with global investors and mentors through the WaveXcelerator program. Nath’s film is being screened alongside other innovative works, with the WAVES CIC Awards on May 4 set to honour the best entries. The Northeast’s cultural presence is further amplified at WAVES, with all eight states showcasing their heritage in the Culturals & Concerts segment, making Nath’s participation a proud moment for the region.

The significance

Nath’s story is more than a personal triumph; it reflects WAVES 2025’s mission to democratise creativity and elevate India’s $2.5 trillion media and entertainment (M&E) sector to a global powerhouse. The Indian animation industry, part of the AVGC-XR ecosystem, is projected to reach $70 billion by 2032, and talents like Nath are at the forefront of this growth. His use of local narratives aligns with the summit’s Bharat Pavilion theme, “Kala to Code,” which celebrates India’s cultural heritage through modern tech like AI and digital graphics.