Published : 14 Sep 2026, 02:36 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:50 AM
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has added a musical touch to his visit to India, singing a classic Bollywood song at a gala dinner during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Anwar sang Kishore Kumar’s 1965 hit “Khwaab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat” from the film Teen Devian, accompanied by a live pianist, the NDTV reports.
The song was composed by SD Burman and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
The performance drew attention at the evening event, turning a formal gathering of political leaders into a cultural moment, the report said.
Anwar later shared a clip of the performance on social media with the caption, “Guru mintak izin nyanyi kejap ok!”, which roughly translates as “Teacher, may I sing for a moment?”
The video quickly drew warm reactions online, with users praising his singing and expressing appreciation for the cultural connection between Malaysia and India.
Anwar’s Love for Indian Music
This was not the first time Anwar has publicly expressed his admiration for Indian cinema and music.
During an earlier visit to India, he sang the same Kishore Kumar song during a media interaction. He also performed Mukesh’s classic “Dost Dost Na Raha” at an event in Delhi in 2024.
His interest extends beyond Hindi cinema. During bilateral exchanges, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously pointed to Anwar’s appreciation for iconic figures from South Indian cinema, including MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, and old Tamil film songs.
BRICS Partnership
Malaysia took part in the summit as a BRICS partner country, with discussions covering major global issues, economic relations and trade initiatives.
India-Malaysia engagements on the sidelines focused on expanding cooperation in areas such as digital technology and tourism, the report said.
Anwar has also highlighted Modi’s global standing, telling reporters that he had received countless messages from people back home asking him to convey their warm regards to the Indian leader.
