He called on policymakers, creators, and media leaders to think global, embrace reform, and invest boldly in creativity and technology.
India’s creative industries must move from the margins to the mainstream and become a core pillar of the country’s economic and cultural growth, said Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India, in his keynote address at FICCI Frames 2025.
Banerjee highlighted the immense potential of India’s media and entertainment sector, urging the need for strong institutional frameworks and talent pipelines capable of producing globally scaled content rooted in Indian stories.
“If India has to write the next chapter of global leadership, we must rely equally on creativity and technology,” he said. “We need to invest in creativity with the same boldness and vision that we now apply to technology.”
Encouraging policymakers, media leaders, and creators to think global in ambition, Banerjee called for bold reforms, regulatory openness, and creative experimentation.
Citing data, he noted that India’s media and entertainment sector-currently valued at nearly $30 billion and contributing 0.7% to GDP-is projected to grow at 7-8% annually. “Almost all of this growth comes from domestic demand. The key question is – what will it take to scale globally? Where will the next leap come from?” he asked.
Banerjee pointed to the Malayalam film industry as a model for India’s creative economy. Referring to the recent blockbuster Lokah: Chapter 1, he said, “No film has captivated me so deeply since Baahubali. With a modest Rs 30 crore budget, it has crossed Rs 300 crore at the box office – proof that powerful storytelling drives commercial success.”
He urged the industry to replicate such success across regions, emphasizing institution-building and academic collaboration.
“If there is a Stanford University, Silicon Valley will follow,” Banerjee remarked. “India needs those creative and academic connections to flourish. The government’s recent initiatives are a promising start.”
With a focus on creativity, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships, Banerjee concluded that India’s future growth will depend on how boldly it integrates imagination with technology – making creativity not just an industry, but a national growth engine.
