‘Tell your 1 billion untold stories to world’: PM Modi to youth at WAVES 2025

PM Modi addressing WAVES 2025 at Jio World Convention Centre.

While addressing WAVES 2025 in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the event is a wave of culture, creativity and universal connection. He urged the youth  to tell their "1 billion untold stories to the world".

"WAVES is a global platform that belongs to every artist and creator — a space where every artist, every youth will connect with the creative world through new ideas...When a new sun rises it gives colour to the sky, WAVES Summit from the beginning is shining. The summit has attracted global attention," said the PM after inaugurating the event.

According to PM Modi, the Summit is "roaring with purpose in the first edition itself". "Many people are also sitting here, who had made two- to three-minute videos during Gandhi 150, promoting Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts. We had already seen a glimpse of what India and the creative world could achieve by coming together. Today, that vision has turned into reality with the launch of WAVES..." he said.

The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a four-day event is being held with the tagline ‘Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries'. It aims to establish India as an entertainment and creative innovation hub.

"In the last century, Indian cinema has been successful in making India popular in every part of the world. This is evident from Raj Kapoor's popularity in Russia, Satyajit Ray's popularity at Cannes, and RRR's success at the Oscars," said PM Modi.

The PM said India, with a billion-plus population, is also 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 said.

According to PM Modi, foreign audiences are watching Indian content through subtitles. "Over-The-Top platform has grown significantly. Screen size is small but the scope is huge. Screen is micro but growth is significant," said the PM.

PM Modi said the global animation industry is currently worth $430 billion and it will double in 10 years. "This is an opportunity for India's animation and VFX segment," he said.

The PM also reiterated that his government would always support artists. "From Skill india to start up support,  the WAVES platform will help you to fulfill your dreams. We want to create a place where your ideas and imagination will be valued. Through WAVES, you will get a big platform where creativity and coding will happen together where art and augmented reality will happen together," he said.

The PM also said the youth does not carry any baggage and their creativity it is free flowing.  "I have met gamers and other creators. I follow the work of creators on social media. Reels, podcast, animation- our young minds are doing good work in these formats. Waves is for the young generation. WAVES is there to help  youth redefine the entertainment industry," said the PM.

He said WAVES will connect India with global storytellers. "It connect our animators with the global world. It will make gamers global champions. To the creators of the world, dream big and tell your stories. I say to the investors don't invest in just platforms but in people," said the PM Modi.