PRIME Minister Mr. Narendra Modi presented to the country a new horizon of achievement of excellence and top position in what he described as “Orange economy” -- by way of which he expected the Indian people to make the best utilisation of three pillars: Content, Creativity, and Culture. ‘Use these three pillars to create new humane expressions for the country and for the world’, he said in effect, as the country’s creative community in art and culture applauded his vision. The ‘World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit 2025 (WAVES 25) at Mumbai, thus, got off to a splendid start with the Prime Minister exposing to the larger Indian society immense scope for a new-age expression that would entertain as well as enrich not just the country but also the whole world. ‘Create for India and create for the world’, the Prime Minister said to everybody’s cheer. Even as the country is passing through tense moments in the wake of Pahalgam terror strike and subsequent response of India to the challenge, the Prime Minister appeared cool, so to say, and composed and gave to the nation another facet of the culture-based activity of Orange economy.

 

There are ample opportunities for India to shine in the New World challenges. India has a unique cultural background that can help Indian people generate great quality-content that will entertain and enrich not just the country but also the world, he said. The Indian content stemming from creative usage of a rich cultural heritage would bring enormous opportunity to the country and add value to its economic wellness. It is upto the creative community of the larger Indian society to make the best use of this open invitation to excel, the Prime Minister said with much emphasis. Lauding the traditional Indian creativity in arts, the Prime Minister emphasised fullest possible use of the talent of the people. Technology has its own merit, but creativity is needed to make its best use. ‘India is fortunate to have that creativity in abundance, and we must not miss this opportunity,’ he added -- to dominate the global entertainment scene. It was only natural that the elite cultural gentry present at the WAVES 25 Summit welcomed the Prime Minister’s enthusiasm wholeheartedly.

 

We have chosen to describe the Prime Minister’s appeal as an opening of the window to a new horizon with purpose. Indian art has always attracted the world. But the Prime Minister expressed a keenness to utilise Indian prowess in art and entertainment as a lever of economic growth as well. This is the new horizon, an entirely different presented range of opportunities to the Indian art and entertainment segments -- as highlighted by the Prime Minister at the WAVES 2025 Summit. Of course, Indian art has always been a cultural ambassador of the country in the world. Yet, at WAVES 20, Mr. Narendra Modi sought to present an entirely different picture of possibilities in the future -- near and far. He invited the country’s artistic and technological communities to get engaged in joint action to create a favourable Orange economy with unsurpassable benefits. ‘Indian films hold in their folds tremendous potential to capture larger-ever audiences the world over.

 

They, therefore, make the best out of that calling of the international market. There is economic opportunity, but there is a greater cultural opportunity for the country and its community of arts. Films have an immense potential that is yet to be fully utilised. May that become a national mission operating on a new horizon for the country, Mr. Modi meant -- like he did with sports, like what he sought to achieve in education. If the country’s audio-visual entertainment community is able to make the best use of the new opportunity, then it will lift itself to greater heights doubtless.