Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim sings Kishore Kumar song at BRICS gala dinner

At Saturday's gala dinner during the BRICS summit, a musical moment drew more attention than the diplomatic talks. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim surprised those present by singing the popular Kishore Kumar song "Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqiqat."

Anwar Ibrahim was seen humming the lines of the song along with a pianist's tune. A video of the moment is being widely shared on social media. The song is from the 1965 film Teen Deviyan, composed by S. D. Burman with lyrics written by Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Anwar Ibrahim's fondness for Indian music and films has come to light before. This is not the first time he has sung this song. During a visit to India in 2024, he sang the same song in an interview. This makes clear that his liking for Kishore Kumar's songs is not new, but has been on public display before as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the gala dinner in honour of BRICS leaders at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. At this formal event, Anwar Ibrahim's sudden singing added a cultural touch to the occasion. Leaders and representatives from various countries had arrived in Delhi for the BRICS summit, and amid this, the video of Anwar Ibrahim singing became a talking point. A glimpse of Indian film music on an international diplomatic platform gave the moment special significance.

In the video, Anwar Ibrahim is seen going up to the pianist and singing along with the tune. Amid formal meetings, talks and diplomatic events, this informal moment became a special attraction for those present. Anwar Ibrahim himself shared the video on his social media account. The BRICS gala dinner also included several cultural programmes bringing together music, art and the cultural traditions of different countries. Anwar Ibrahim singing the Kishore Kumar song at this event added a special flavour to it.