Mumbai, Oct 10 (NationPress) Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani emphasized the critical need for India to control its own global narrative, harnessing the soft power of cinema, vibrant storytelling, and the advantages presented by emerging technologies like AI. Speaking at Whistling Woods International, he stated, "If we do not articulate who we are, others will reinterpret our history. Hence, we must take ownership of our narrative, not with hubris, but with genuineness, not as mere propaganda, but as a matter of purpose."

Adani referenced Raj Kapoor’s iconic film "Awaara", where the beloved actor portrayed a relatable common man, resonating deeply with Soviet audiences during the post-World War II period. He remarked that Kapoor was India’s most effective ambassador of soft power, forging a cultural connection that strengthened Indo-Soviet relations for generations.

He cautioned against letting India's stories be interpreted through Western narratives, as seen in films like "Gandhi" and "Slumdog Millionaire". "Why should it take Richard Attenborough from across the seas to narrate our Mahatma's story to us Indians?" he asked.

Adani expressed his concern that for too long, "India's voice has resonated firmly within our borders but has been faint beyond them".

"And in that absence of voice, others have taken up the pen, portraying Bharat through biased lenses and shaped by their own convenience."

He specifically criticized the British film "Slumdog Millionaire", which he described as a spectacle that commodified Dharavi's struggles for Western accolades, transforming our suffering into an award-winning narrative abroad.

In contrast, he noted that a Hollywood film like "Top Gun" does not merely entertain; it projects power. "Beneath the action sequences and heroism lies a masterfully constructed narrative that showcases national pride, the strength of the US military, and enhances exports, projecting an image of American bravery globally. These films serve not only as entertainment but as strategic tools designed to shape public perception, showcase US dominance, and define American identity," he asserted.

Films such as "Black Hawk Down", "American Sniper", "Rocky", "Apollo 13", and "Rambo" convey a similar message of US power, he added.

Gautam Adani insisted that the power of storytelling can be a double-edged sword. In capable hands, it can forge nations. In the wrong hands, it can distort minds.

"Today, narratives transcend cinema; they influence markets, shape geopolitics, and redefine destinies. I can attest to this personally, having witnessed how swiftly a false narrative can spread when, in January 2023, a foreign short seller, Hindenburg Research, executed a calculated attack against us. Within days, over $100 billion of our market value vanished, not due to any changes in fundamentals or facts, but because a completely false narrative had been weaponized," he elucidated.

"While we managed to reclaim the narrative and emerged even stronger post-attack, that moment unveiled a truth we are currently facing: an era where narratives can shift markets faster than numbers, where headlines can dismantle decades of diligence, and where the truth often trails behind perceptions. This experience taught me that in today's world, truth must be proclaimed loudly. Silence allows others to script your destiny," Gautam Adani remarked.

He contended that India's inability to assert its narrative has permitted others to profit off skewed representations of its reality, stressing that the country must cease allowing others to define its identity.

He underscored that in today’s landscape, "truth must also be loudly proclaimed. Our shortcoming has never been in imagination; it has been in our reluctance to act."

Looking ahead, Gautam Adani stated that AI represents the new printing press, the fresh cinema, and a powerful diplomatic tool, shaping global perceptions, productions, and beliefs. "We must now utilize AI as our greatest multiplier, the new sutradhar weaving the essence of Bharat into the global narrative. He detailed how AI will facilitate instantaneous worldwide releases, real-time storytelling, and hyper-personalized content."

He also called upon young creators to harness these tools to authentically and purposefully narrate Bharat's story.