Context & Significance
- Amid global trade tariffs and market instability, India demonstrates economic resilience driven by demographic strength, technological innovation, and cultural richness.
- The vision of ‘Create in India, Create for the World’ positions India as a rising global creative leader, especially in the Media & Entertainment (M&E)
- India’s M&E industry, the world’s fifth-largest (1st is US), is projected to grow to USD 44.2 billion by 2028.
WAVES & WAVEX: Government-backed Creative Initiatives
- WAVES 2025 (World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit) to be held in Mumbai aims to:
- Connect creators with industry leaders.
- Boost India’s Media & Entertainment (M&E) startup ecosystem.
- Promote inclusive innovation, especially women-led startups.
- WAVES Xcelerator (WAVEX):
- Provides funding, mentorship, and exposure.
- Targets sectors like animation, AR/VR, gaming, AI, and the metaverse.
- Supports over 4,500 sellers and 5,900 buyers through WAVES Bazaar.
India’s Global Presence in Creative Industries
- India’s M&E sector is fast evolving—from traditional storytelling to cutting-edge digital production.
- Notable achievement: DNEG, led by Namit Malhotra, delivered Oscar-winning VFX for Dune 2, marking India’s 7th Oscar win.
- Indian creators are now making global impact in fields like film, music, animation, and tech-driven media.
Sectoral Growth & Potential
- M&E sector expected to grow from ₹2,422 billion (2023) to ₹3,067 billion (2027).
- WAVEX boosts startups like:
- Lapwing Studios, Vygr Media (women-led),
- Erucanavis Technologies (AI-driven playable ads),
- Amaze Studios, Offline Human Studios (VR-based storytelling),
- InscapeXR, Vision Impact (immersive ed-tech platforms).
India’s Unique Creative Edge
- India’s centuries-old storytelling traditions, combined with youthful innovation, fuel its rise as a global cultural leader.
- Strong synergy of science and art evident in initiatives like:
- MAP (Museum of Art and Photography) and Science Gallery Bengaluru.
Vision for the Future
- WAVES 2025 is not just a summit—it’s a launchpad for global creative entrepreneurship.
- The initiative reflects India’s commitment to:
- Nurturing creative self-expression.
- Promoting economic growth through culture and innovation.
- Positioning young Indian creators as global changemakers.
- Creativity is seen as the currency of future industries—be it in biotech labs or digital studios.
WAVES symbolizes India’s strategic shift from being a content consumer to a content and culture creator for the world. By fusing tradition with technology, India is ready to lead a global creative revolution. The time has come to ‘Create in India, Create for the World’, and showcase the boundless imagination of a new India.
