WAVES 2025: Experts Call for Inclusive Content Revolution at Panel on Accessibility in Media

Mumbai: A powerful panel discussion on “Accessibility Standards in the Media & Entertainment Sector” at WAVES 2025 today sparked a critical conversation around the future of inclusive content in India’s rapidly digitizing landscape. Voices from academia, journalism, law, technology, and policy came together to assert a unified message: accessibility must be a core pillar of content creation—not a postscript.

Setting the tone for the session, Prof. Brij Kothari of IIT Delhi underscored India’s pivotal role in redefining accessibility standards. “India is not just catching up; we are leading the conversation on inclusive design,” he said. Citing India’s scale and diversity, he argued that accessibility should no longer be seen as a niche requirement for the visually or hearing impaired, but as a universal design principle that enhances experiences for over 1.4 billion people.

Christopher Patnoe, Head of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion for EMEA at Google, provided an international outlook, referencing strong accessibility laws in the U.S. and the promise of the European Accessibility Act. “The next decade will be transformative. We’re laying the groundwork now for systemic change,” he said, adding that strong enforcement mechanisms and clear frameworks are critical.

Ashay Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, CEO of Kintel, brought attention to the creative dimensions of accessible content, especially in film and media. “To make content truly accessible, we must preserve the creator’s perspective—not reduce it to generic, automated outputs,” he stressed, calling for accessibility practices that enhance, not dilute, artistic vision.

Journalist Priti Salian showcased how AI is fast-tracking the creation of accessible content. “With AI, what used to take weeks now takes just 30 hours—be it sign language avatars or audio descriptions,” she noted. However, she warned that technology alone cannot fill the gap. “We need stronger government support, robust public-private partnerships, and dedicated tendering mechanisms to scale these innovations across India’s entertainment sector.”

Rahul Bajaj, lawyer and advocate for inclusive content across platforms including OTT, television, and theatre, emphasized the urgency of stronger legal safeguards and industry-wide collaboration to implement meaningful change.

Adding to this, Danish Mahajan, Founder of Radio Udaan, argued for increased representation of persons with disabilities in policy and regulatory bodies. “Accessibility must not be an afterthought—it should be systemically embedded,” he said, pressing for rigorous enforcement of existing accessibility policies.

As the session concluded, a shared sentiment resonated across the panel: accessibility is not just a compliance requirement—it is a creative, ethical, and strategic imperative. With India at the forefront of a global content revolution, panelists urged that inclusion must be woven into the very fabric of media and entertainment.