Watch: Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim sings Kishore Kumar’s ‘Khwab Ho Tum’ at BRICS Gala in Delhi | Today’s news
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim brought a Bollywood touch to his official visit to India when he performed Kishore Kumar’s classic song ‘Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat’ from the 1965 film Teen Devian during the BRICS gala dinner in New Delhi.
The musical moment came when Anwar was in the nation’s capital for the BRICS summit, adding a cultural dimension to his diplomatic engagements in India.
Anwar Ibrahim’s Kishore Kumar Moment
Anwar sang the song during his stay at a hotel in Delhi, showcasing his long-standing interest in Hindi cinema. Composed by SD Burman with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri, it is one of Kishore Kumar’s famous songs.
The Malaysian Prime Minister had earlier displayed his knowledge of Indian popular culture during his interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During an earlier diplomatic contact involving Modi, Anwar shared an official video montage featuring “Bole Chudiyan” by Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
His latest musical performance once again brought Bollywood into the limelight during his official engagements in India.
Anwar praises India’s heritage and supports a peaceful solution
Apart from the cultural exchange, Anwar praised India’s civilizational heritage and history. He also expressed optimism that the outstanding geopolitical issues between India and Pakistan could eventually be resolved peacefully.
The visit marked Anwar’s first trip to India since becoming Malaysia’s prime minister in 2022.
Diplomatic engagement has also resulted in the elevation of ties between India and Malaysia to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries have signed several agreements covering areas including digital technologies and tourism cooperation.
Anwar and Modi meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit
Anwar also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit.
During the meeting, Anwar mentioned Modi’s international reach, saying, “You see, Prime Minister Modi is so popular; I have received so many messages to convey my greetings to him.”
Malaysia attended the high-level meeting as a BRICS partner country and participated in discussions on global governance, sustainable development, trade, investment and digital transformation.
The BRICS gala evening offers a cultural performance
The gala dinner also included cultural performances designed to showcase artistic traditions from BRICS member and partner countries.
These included “Navarasa – A Universe of Shared Emotions” and the BRICS Symphony “One Rhythm, Many Cultures”, highlighting artistic collaboration across participating countries.
The cultural program followed the unanimous adoption of the 2026 New Delhi Declaration, in which BRICS members supported institutional reforms of global governance and re-emphasized support for multilateral cooperation for developing economies.
