Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Adds a Bollywood Touch to BRICS Gala Dinner with Kishore Kumar Classic

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gave the 18th BRICS Summit an unexpected and delightful Bollywood moment during his recent visit to New Delhi. Attending a high-profile gala dinner hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Bharat Mandapam, the Malaysian leader took the opportunity to sing Kishore Kumar's timeless romantic classic, "Khwaab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat".

His surprise musical performance quickly became a major talking point, adding a distinctly light-hearted, cultural twist to an evening otherwise dominated by formal diplomacy and geopolitics.

A Memorable Musical Performance

Accompanied by a pianist, Ibrahim appeared fully immersed in the performance as he sang the famous track from the 1965 Hindi film Teen Devian. The legendary song was originally composed by S.D. Burman with lyrics penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Ibrahim later shared a video of the heartfelt rendition on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He affectionately captioned the clip in Malay, which translated to: "Teacher, may I have permission to sing for a moment, okay?". The clip gained rapid traction across social media platforms, with audiences widely praising the Prime Minister's gesture and his appreciation for Indian pop culture.

Diplomacy Meets Shared Cultural Ties

The gala dinner followed a productive first day of the summit, during which BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026. While the formal meetings focused on global conflicts, sustainable development, and economic cooperation, the evening's cultural program—which featured Indian regional cuisine and performances like the "BRICS Symphony"—offered leaders a more relaxed atmosphere to connect. Malaysia participated in the high-level dialogue as a BRICS Partner Country.

Ibrahim's musical interlude underscored his long-standing fondness for Hindi cinema and music. The Malaysian Prime Minister has publicly expressed his admiration for Kishore Kumar before, having even sung the exact same song during an interview in India in 2024. He has frequently used Bollywood to highlight the cultural bridges between the two nations, such as when he shared an official video montage set to the song "Bole Chudiyan" during PM Modi's visit to Malaysia.

By breaking into song at such a prestigious gathering, Anwar Ibrahim proved that shared cultural experiences can seamlessly complement even the highest levels of international diplomacy.

Quick Facts (FAQs)

What song did Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim sing at the BRICS dinner? Anwar Ibrahim sang "Khwaab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat," a classic Kishore Kumar song from the 1965 Bollywood film Teen Devian.

Where did this performance take place? The performance took place during the BRICS gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Has Anwar Ibrahim shown an interest in Bollywood before? Yes, the Malaysian leader is known for his deep appreciation of Indian cinema and music. He has previously sung Hindi classics during diplomatic visits and shared official videos featuring popular Bollywood tracks like "Bole Chudiyan".

What was Malaysia's role at the 18th BRICS Summit? Malaysia attended the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi as a formal BRICS Partner Country.