Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim brought an unexpected musical moment to the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, when he sang a popular Kishore Kumar classic during the gala dinner.
Seated at the dinner with a pianist providing the melody, Anwar performed ‘Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat’ from the 1965 film Teen Devian.
Composed by SD Burman and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri, the evergreen song added a nostalgic touch to the formal diplomatic gathering.
Anwar later shared a video of the performance on his X account, extending the musical moment beyond the dinner venue.
Guru mintak izin nyanyi kejap ok! pic.twitter.com/NzazFHV509
— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) September 12, 2026
Malaysian Prime Minister’s admiration for Kishore Kumar is not new. During an interview in India in 2024, he sang the same song, highlighting his long-standing fondness for the legendary Indian playback singer.
The performance came after Anwar held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day on the sidelines of the summit.
The two leaders discussed areas including trade, semiconductors and strengthening the India-Malaysia partnership.
The musical performance added a cultural touch to the formal summit.
The evening featured ‘Navarasa – The Universe of Shared Emotions’ and the BRICS Symphony – ‘One Rhythm, Many Cultures’, bringing musicians from member and partner countries together.
Drawing on diverse musical traditions and instruments, the symphony highlighted the cultural diversity and shared spirit of the BRICS family. Together, the performances added a message of unity and cultural exchange to the diplomatic proceedings.
For a few moments, Anwar’s rendition of a beloved Kishore Kumar song shifted attention from geopolitics to music, nostalgia and the enduring cultural appeal of Indian cinema.
Also Read: BRICS Summit 2026: Xi Jinping Says China And India Are ‘Partners, Not Rivals’
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