New Delhi: The Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, turned a formal BRICS Summit visit into an unexpectedly musical affair, with a video of him singing classic Hindi cinema songs at a gathering in New Delhi going viral on social media. From Mukesh’s soulful “Dost Dost Na Raha” to Kishore Kumar’s energetic “Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat”, Anwar sang along to some of Hindi cinema’s most memorable melodies.
The video, recorded late on Saturday, shows Anwar first singing a few lines from “Dost Dost Na Raha”, the Mukesh classic from the 1964 film Sangam. The clip then moves to Kishore Kumar’s “Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat”, from the 1965 film Teen Deviyan, with a pianist playing alongside him. The song was composed by SD Burman and written by lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.
The impromptu performance, however, was hardly Anwar’s first Bollywood moment during his India visit. The Malaysian prime minister has repeatedly used Hindi film songs on his social media, often pairing them with photographs and videos from his engagements with Indian leaders and dignitaries.
In one such post, Anwar used Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle’s “Saathi Haath Badhana” as the soundtrack to a photograph featuring the Iranian delegation and Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian. On another occasion, he used “I am the best” from film Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani alongside a picture with prime minister, Narendra Modi.
His Bollywood playlist has also included songs such as “Dil To Pagal Hai” and “Deewana Hai Ye Dil”, adding a distinctly Hindi film touch to his social media posts during the India visit.
Anwar’s fondness for Hindi cinema has also featured prominently in his interactions with Modi. During his visit, he earlier used “Bole Chudiyan” from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham as the background score for a montage marking Modi’s first day in Malaysia, highlighting the cultural and historical ties between the two countries.
The two leaders also met on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12. Their discussions covered trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, the digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism and people-to-people ties.
His choice of songs, ranging from old Mukesh and Kishore Kumar classics to more contemporary Hindi film numbers, has given his BRICS visit an unusual musical soundtrack.
Before leaving New Delhi, Anwar also met Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of opposition in the lok sabha, over breakfast on Sunday. Member of the lok sabha, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, was also present at the meeting. Anwar said the brief interaction gave them an opportunity to exchange views on the latest international and regional developments.
The meeting also found its way into Anwar’s Bollywood-themed social media trail, with the Malaysian prime minister using “Aisa Desh Hai Mera” from Veer-Zaara alongside a photograph with Rahul Gandhi.
Soon after, Anwar departed New Delhi for Kerala, where he said he would meet the Grand Mufti of India and attend a knowledge session at the Markaz in Karanthur. For his departure post, he chose the patriotic “Des Rangila”, adding one more Hindi song to the soundtrack of his India visit.
After a packed BRICS schedule, meetings with Modi and other leaders, and a string of social media posts featuring some of iconic Hindi most recognizable songs, Anwar left New Delhi with his India visit having acquired an unmistakable Bollywood soundtrack.