At the ongoing WAVES 2025 summit, Nita Ambani, Chairperson of JioStar and founder of Reliance Foundation, delivered a keynote address centered around the theme “Taking India to the World.” In her speech, she celebrated India’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage and emphasized the nation’s longstanding global influence.
Ambani highlighted that India’s cultural legacy has reached across borders for millennia, long before the advent of cinema or the internet. “The light of India has travelled far and wide for thousands of years,” she remarked, citing how India historically attracted Buddhist monks from across the world, who traveled great distances in search of knowledge.
Referencing examples from across Asia, she pointed out that Hindu deities such as Laxmi, Saraswati, Shiva, Ram, and Ganesh are still worshipped in countries like Japan and Indonesia. She also noted the profound influence of Indian temple architecture seen in iconic structures like Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, Indonesia’s Borobudur, and Vietnam’s Chaam temples.
“India is the very cradle of civilization — a cultural force whose time has come once again,” she stated, underscoring India’s rise to becoming the world’s third-largest economy and its renewed role on the global stage.
Ambani spoke about storytelling as a core part of Indian tradition. “From kathavachaks and travelling bards to temple murals and modern cinema, storytelling has always been the heartbeat of our legacy,” she said. She praised the enduring global appeal of India’s soft power — from theatre and music to literature and visual arts.
The keynote also touched upon the role of Reliance Foundation in preserving and promoting Indian culture. “We deeply believe in the power of our culture to heal, inspire, and unite,” she said, adding that the Foundation is committed to protecting and reviving India’s artistic legacy.
Ambani recalled the inauguration of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre two years ago, established to celebrate and showcase Indian art and culture. She also spoke about Swadesh, an initiative aimed at supporting traditional artisans and craftsmen. “Swadesh honours our traditional artisans, whose every creation carries centuries of inherited wisdom,” she shared.
In a major announcement, Ambani revealed that the Cultural Centre will host a grand Indian cultural weekend at New York’s Lincoln Center this September, furthering efforts to bring India’s heritage to a global audience.
WAVES 2025, formally opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, is a four-day event aiming to position India as a leading force in global media and entertainment. With the theme “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” the summit integrates sectors such as film, OTT, gaming, AI, AVGC-XR, and digital media to showcase India’s creative potential.
A notable feature of the summit is the debut of the Global Media Dialogue (GMD), with ministerial-level participants from 25 countries. WAVES also includes the WAVES Bazaar — a global e-marketplace connecting over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and more than 2,000 creative projects.
With participation from more than 90 nations and over 10,000 delegates, WAVES 2025 features 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout discussions, and 32 masterclasses — establishing it as a landmark event in India’s journey to becoming a global media and entertainment powerhouse.
