by Chahat Sharma
Creative Economy Forum (CEF) returns for its Season 3 with renewed energy and vision, to celebrate and accelerate the nation’s creative power. Hosted at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, on 7th and 8th November 2025. The forum brings together the country’s leading minds from culture, business, design, media, and technology under one roof.
Day One: Reimagining India’s Creative Future
Opening with the theme “Building Creative Bharat” the inaugural session sets the tone for two days of dialogues and discussions.
The morning begins with powerful addresses from Supriya Suri, Founder of the Creative Economy Forum; Ms Avarna Jain, Chairperson of Saregama and RPSG Lifestyle Media; Mr. Harman Baweja, Producer and Managing Director of Baweja Studios; Shri Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA; Shri Sanjeev Sanyal, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the PM; and Hon’ble Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajender Singh Shekhawat.
A launch of the School Hygiene Programme in collaboration with Dettol Banega Swasth India will also mark the forum’s commitment to social impact alongside creative growth.
Through the day, conversations flow across fireside chats, spotlight sessions, and panel discussions that explore how India’s creative industries can build global value while staying rooted in heritage.
Highlights include “The Road to IPO for India’s Creative Businesses” with Mr. Harman Baweja, and “Fuelling Creative Startups”, featuring industry leaders and investors like Mr. Brijesh Damodaran, Mr. Sumeet Jarangal, and Mr. Sanjay Nigam.
The day also features a spotlight on building digital infrastructure with Mr. Anmol Kukreja (Skillbox), followed by a compelling keynote on “Culture as Catalyst: Shaping the Future of Cultural Diplomacy and the Creative Economy” by Prof. Gayle McPherson (UK).
In the afternoon, panels such as “Capitalising Heritage: Crafting Global Narratives for Indian Design” bring together fashion and design pioneers Ms Rina Dhaka, Ms Vaishali S., Ms Ashna Vashwani, and Mr. Anshul Garg Mohan. The panel is moderated by NDTV’s Mayank Choudhary.
Other sessions explore innovation from the Himalayas with “Creative Sikkim: Building Enterprises from the Hills” led by Mr. Dewaker Basnet, and “Artists as Assets: Building Creative Equity”, featuring thought leaders from Somerset House Trust, Dhoomimal Gallery, and Warner Music Group.
As the day concludes, creativity takes a lyrical turn.
The Indian Music Art and Culture Society and The Dagar Archives (Jaipur) present a musical evening by the renowned Pandit Mohan Shyam Sharma, accompanied by Pandit Ghanshya Sisodia on the sarangi.
Day Two: Creativity as a Catalyst for Growth
The second day of the forum delves into how creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship intersect to define India’s evolving cultural economy.
The day opens with “Creative Enterprise: Building Businesses Rooted in Culture”, featuring Mr. Sanjay Anandaram (NICEorg), Ms Shilpa Sharma (Jaypore), and Mr. Gaurav Mehta (Jaipur Watches), a conversation on blending tradition with innovation in business.
A spotlight on innovation follows with Yosha Gupta (Memeraki), discussing “The Art of Innovation: Reviving Crafts in the Digital Age.”
Media takes centre stage with Mr. Rajat Sharma, who reflects on “Aap Ki Adalat: The Journey of India’s Iconic Non-Fiction IP.”
This is followed by Gaurav Dagaonkar (Hoopr) spotlighting “India’s Music-Tech Revolution”, and an engaging discussion on pop culture and animation with Mr. Rajiv Chilaka (Chhota Bheem), Ms Charuvi Agrawal (Charuvi Design Labs), and Mr. Nitesh Rohit (AnimeCon).
Legal and creative perspectives merge in “Building Trust in Creative Bharat: Rights, Reputation & Recognition” with Hon’ble Justice Justice Tejas Karia of the Delhi High Court. Sessions on “Cinema Theatre Economics” and “Empowering the Creative Economy with AI” explore how the screen and digital innovation are reshaping India’s creative industries.
The much-awaited session, “From Epics to Enterprises: Monetising India’s Mythic Legacy”, features Mr. Amish Tripathi, moderated by NDTV’s Sikta Deo, bringing India’s timeless narratives into the modern creative economy.
Closing Ceremony: Celebrating Creative Voices
As the forum draws to a close, the spotlight turns to the Creative Global Voice of India Awards, honouring those redefining India’s creative landscape across art, fashion, design, cinema, and enterprise.
It is an evening that celebrates not just individual achievement, but the collective creative spirit that drives India’s cultural and economic growth.
A Celebration of Connection and Collaboration
Beyond the sessions, the Official Red Carpet each evening will set the tone for a celebration where creators, investors, and visionaries come together in a shared moment of pride, style, and collaboration.
More than an event, the Creative Economy Forum has become a movement, one that believes creativity is not just about self-expression, but about building futures, industries, and identities.
