PM Modi Inaugurates WAVES 2025, Young Talents from Assam and Meghalaya Participate at Global Entertainment Summit in Mumbai

Hirak Jyoti Nath, a self-taught animator from a small town in Assam, stood out with his short film Tales From the Tea House.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, calling it a celebration of India’s cultural strength and storytelling legacy.

WAVES 2025, a first-of-its-kind summit running from May 1 to 4, aims to transform India into a global creative powerhouse. The four-day event features the ‘Create in India Challenge’, where young talent from across the country is showcasing their work. Bollywood celebrities and icons of the entertainment industry attended the star-studded inaugural session.

PM Narendra Modi said, “WAVES is not just an acronym. It is a wave of culture, creativity, and universal connectivity. India, with over a billion people, holds a billion-plus stories. This is the right time to ‘Create in India, Create for the World.’”

He stressed the rise of the Orange Economy in India with content, creativity, and culture as its foundation. “Today, screen size may be getting smaller, but the scope is becoming infinite. India is fast becoming a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music, and live concerts,” PM Modi added.

The summit became a moment of pride for the Northeast also as young animators from Assam and Meghalaya emerged as finalists in the Animation Filmmakers Competition (AFC), part of the ‘Create in India Challenge’.

Hirak Jyoti Nath, a self-taught animator from a small town in Assam, stood out with his short film Tales From the Tea House. His 7-minute animation beautifully blends 2D and subtle 3D to portray Assamese folktales set in the serene tea estates of the region. Drawing from the oral traditions of the Northeast, the film tells magical stories of love, loss, and resilience passed down through generations inside a mystical tea house.

Despite growing up with limited access to professional training and tools, Nath honed his animation skills using online resources and sheer determination. His work is now being celebrated on a global platform, bringing attention to the hidden stories of Assam.

Adding to the region’s glory, Khambor Batei Kharjana from Meghalaya was also named among the top 42 finalists of the Animation Filmmakers Challenge. His project, Lapalang: A Khasi Folklore Reimagined, reinterprets traditional Khasi tales for a modern audience, shining a light on the rich cultural heritage of Meghalaya.

Also Read: PM Modi’s Big NE Infra Push: Region Gets Infra Projects Worth Over Rs 3 Lakh Cr

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