New Delhi: Resham Talwar, a visually challenged voice artist, has been steadily building her path in the world of voice acting. Known for her work as a radio jockey and audio editor, Resham’s skills took centre stage at the WAM! (WAVES Anime & Manga) contest in Delhi, where she won the Voice Acting category. Her performance has opened new doors, giving her work visibility among key players in the industry.
WAM! is more than a competition, it’s a platform designed to energise India’s growing community of anime and manga creators. Organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting along with the Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI), WAM! encourages artists to develop Indian takes on popular Japanese styles, expanding creative opportunities in publishing, distribution, and industry collaborations.
The contest is travelling across 11 cities, with winners heading to a grand finale at the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, set for 1st to 4th May at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. WAVES aims to position India as a major hub for global media and entertainment, bringing together sectors such as films, OTT, gaming, comics, AI, and the rapidly growing AVGC-XR space.
India’s media and entertainment industry is racing towards a projected $50 billion mark by 2029. WAVES 2025 is set to accelerate this momentum, drawing inspiration from international events like Davos and Cannes while giving it an Indian flavour.
At the heart of WAVES lies the Create in India Challenges (CIC), which have already drawn over 77,000 entries worldwide. More than 725 shortlisted creators will showcase their talent at the grand finale in Mumbai. WAM! forms a key part of CIC, focusing on anime and manga, and provides artists, from fresh talent to seasoned professionals, with an industry-facing platform.
India, now home to an estimated 180 million anime fans, has emerged as the world’s second-largest anime market. Popular titles such as Naruto, One Piece, and Attack on Titan have built massive audiences, and streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, and Disney+ Hotstar have made anime easily accessible across the country.
While the demand for anime and manga continues to grow, the availability of skilled Indian creators remains limited. WAM! is stepping in to bridge this gap by nurturing new voices and bringing regional stories into the mainstream. With the market expected to surpass $5 billion by 2032, India’s creative force is only just beginning to rise.
BI Bureau
