Icons Light The Path For India’s Creative Youth

New Delhi: The lights dimmed. The stage glowed. And as the ceremonial lamp was lit at Siri Fort Auditorium by Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan, Padma Shri Dr. Resul Pookutty, Sham Kaushal, Dr. (Hon.) Mohit Soni, Dr. (Hon.) Amit Behl, Padma Vibhushan Usha Uthup, and legendary filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, a powerful message echoed through the auditorium — and into the hearts of every aspiring student present.

⁠“This is the moment for India's young creators,” said Shri Shankar Mahadevan. “It is time to turn your passion into a profession. And the Indian Institute of Creative Skills is the bridge that makes this possible.”

That heartfelt call to action set the tone for Made for Media, a national creative conclave hosted by the Indian Institute of Creative Skills (IICS) — India’s first industry-led creative incubator — supported by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, NSDC Academy, and the Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC).

Aparshakti Khurana, Resul pookutty, Shankar mahadevan , Sham Kaushal, Usha Uthup, Sushma Gaikwad in this photo

The event brought together India’s creative legends, educators, and visionaries in a grand celebration of talent, mentorship, and structured skilling — transforming Siri Fort into a temple of creative ambition.

The day opened with divine resonance — Usha Uthup’s stirring Ganesh Vandana, followed by Shankar Mahadevan’s soulful Saraswati Vandana. A pulsating performance by Kamli Entertainment’s Bollywood Originals, Pratap & Harish, Poshak Dua (Mind Reader), Manish (Ventriloquist),  Sangeet Haldipur, Anusha Mani, and the Illuminati Group electrified the atmosphere, drawing standing ovations.

Anchoring the event with energy and elegance were Aparshakti Khurana and Vandana Vadhera, seamlessly guiding the audience through a day of inspiration, insight, and imagination.

Adding a strong national voice to the day’s proceedings was Mr. Tarun Chugh, National General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who lauded the initiative as a transformative platform for India's youth.

⁠“India is stepping into a new era — one where our culture, creativity, and stories will define our identity globally. The Indian Institute of Creative Skills is not just an academic platform — it is a nation-building initiative. Skilling our youth in the creative economy is a vital pillar of a self-reliant India (Aatmanirbhar Bharat). I extend my full support and congratulations to the entire team behind this mission,” Mr. Chugh said.

But beyond the glamour, the event carried substance. It was a moment of reckoning — where India’s creative leaders passed the torch to the next generation.

From Rahul Rawail to Neeta Lulla, RS Prasanna, Kiran Joneja Sippy, Wiz Sabbas Joseph, Priyanka Sinha Jha, E. Suresh, Vaibhav Kumaresh, Shibashish Sarkar, Roshni Sehgal, Barnali Ray Shukla, Pooja Arora, Ashish Behl, Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Anuradha Tiwari, Sabbas Joseph, Sushma Gaikwad, Ketki Pandit, Rashmi Menon, Anand Jha, Lalita Goenka, Ashish Kulkarni, Sanjay Khimsara and many others — the mentors came together to echo a single truth: ⁠“Use our journeys as your shortcut. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Learn from our mistakes. Build on our knowledge. And go further than we ever could.” — Dr. Resul Pookutty

‘I am glad India is now moving away from the herd mentality of joining medical , engineering institutes towards skill development and IICS is pioneering the trend of putting skills above degrees’ - Afrida Ali, executive editor, FPJ

"The Indian Institute of Creative Skills is a visionary step towards making India the global hub for creative excellence. By combining industry insights with hands-on training, IICS is not just skilling talent — it’s shaping the future of India’s creative economy." – Arbaz Khan.

⁠“This is not just a campus. Indian Institute of Creative Skills is a national movement to bring dignity and sustainability to creative careers.” — Dr. Mohit Soni.

⁠“We must break the myth that talent is enough. Skilling is the spine of performance.” — Dr. Amit Behl

“Mark my words — IICS will soon be a global magnet for creative education.” — Sham Kaushal.

Built to answer the aspirations of India’s Gen Z creators, IICS aims to train over 1,000 students annually across 10 cities, offering programs in filmmaking, animation, design, content creation, performance, sound, editing, and more — all mentored by industry experts.

The conclave also marked the launch of a national Value Partnership Program, inviting schools, entrepreneurs, and institutions to co-create IICS campuses across India with end-to-end support — from curriculum to mentor network — aligned with CSR and Skill India goals.

For the hundreds of students who attended from across India, the day was more than a celebration. It was a moment of clarity — that the road to a creative career no longer has to be walked alone.

The Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC) also  entered into the MoU with WACOM, ASIFA India, and GIG Media to promote industry-led training and foster innovation in animation, digital design, and creative media.

As the curtains closed, a new stage opened — for thousands of journeys to begin.