Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bharat Pavilion at WAVES 2025 — the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit — held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The pavilion, themed “Kala to Code,” celebrates India’s rich legacy of storytelling and its evolution into a modern, tech-driven creative force.
The launch marks a significant milestone in India’s push to showcase its cultural power and emerging leadership in the global media and entertainment industry.
Showcasing India’s Storytelling Journey
The Bharat Pavilion offers visitors a multi-sensory experience across four curated zones that illustrate the nation’s transition from ancient narratives to futuristic digital storytelling:
- Shruti: Focuses on India’s oral storytelling traditions, capturing the spoken word’s cultural depth.
- Kriti: Highlights written literature and script-based stories from ancient to contemporary India.
- Drishti: Explores visual storytelling through film, art, sculpture, and multimedia formats.
- Creator’s Leap: A forward-looking zone spotlighting technology, AI, gaming, animation, and immersive experiences.
Together, these zones represent the full spectrum of India’s storytelling—from mythology and folk tales to virtual reality and metaverse-enabled narratives.
PM Modi’s Vision for India’s Cultural Diplomacy
In his address, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the power of storytelling in connecting cultures and shaping global perception. He noted that India’s artistic expressions, whether traditional or technological, serve as tools of soft power that foster cultural diplomacy.
He also highlighted how platforms like WAVES strengthen India’s role in the global creative economy and create opportunities for collaboration with content creators, tech innovators, and investors from around the world.
The Bharat Pavilion stands as a symbol of India’s readiness to lead in sectors such as media, film, digital entertainment, and content technology.
WAVES 2025: India’s Global Creative Hub
WAVES 2025 brings together over 100 countries and thousands of stakeholders in the creative industries. The event aims to unlock a $50 billion opportunity for India’s media and entertainment sector by 2029. Key features of the summit include:
- Global Media Dialogue with ministerial delegations from 25+ countries
- WAVES Bazaar, a digital marketplace with over 6,000 buyers and 5,000 sellers
- Showcases of animation, gaming, and immersive content projects
The summit is designed not only as a business platform but also as a space for cultural exchange, strategic partnerships, and showcasing India’s creative innovation on the global stage.
India’s Creative Economy: From Tradition to Innovation
The Bharat Pavilion is not just an exhibition — it is a narrative of India’s creative evolution. From the cave paintings of Bhimbetka to 3D animation and AI-generated content, India’s journey from traditional to tech-driven storytelling reflects its adaptability and resilience.
With government support, private sector collaboration, and a growing pool of talented creators, India is poised to be a global leader in the digital content economy.
PM Modi’s inauguration of the pavilion reinforces the government’s commitment to nurturing creativity, preserving cultural heritage, and embracing innovation for the future.
The Bharat Pavilion at WAVES 2025 is a bold declaration of India’s creative aspirations and global cultural presence. As the world turns toward digital experiences and immersive narratives, India’s rich past and innovative future combine to tell a powerful story — one that’s just beginning to unfold.